In 2020, Dolly Parton donated $1 million to help develop Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. She did it to help others, not herself. Even though COVID-19 vaccines have been available to anyone age 70+ in Tennessee since the beginning of February, Parton didn’t get her first dose until March 2, 2021.
Parton has previously said, “I didn’t want to jump line. I didn’t donate the money so I could be protected. I did it for everybody.”
Don’t let that make you think for a second that Parton wasn’t going to get the vaccine when it was her turn. Not only did she get vaccinated on March 2, but she also got vaccinated in front of a camera. She later posted the video on Instagram.
The video is captioned, “Dolly gets a dose of her own medicine.” Obviously, that’s a reference to the fact that she contributed monetarily to develop the Moderna vaccine. At the beginning of the video, Parton says, “I’m very happy that I’m going to get my Moderna shot today.” That’s right. She said “my shot.”
Parton seems proud that she had a part in helping an effective COVID-19 vaccine. She even wrote a song to try to inspire others to get vaccinated. She changed the lyrics of her song “Jolene” so that she sang “vaccine” instead of “Jolene.”
After singing, she got serious with a message for “all of you cowards out there, don’t be such a chicken squat! Get out there and get your shot!”
Finally, Parton introduces her friend Dr. Naji Abumrad who gives her the first does of the Moderna vaccine. Watch the video below to hear Parton’s vaccine song and to see Parton get the Moderna vaccine.
In the comments of Parton’s video, many fans quoted their favorite things that Parton said in this Instagram video. For example, they really seem to like that she said “I’m old enough to get it, and I’m smart enough to get it.”
Did you know that Parton donated $1 million to help develop the Moderna vaccine? Have you been vaccinated yet? Do you think Parton’s video will inspire other people to get vaccinated?