Dolly Parton hailed as Covid vaccine queen after $1million Moderna donation

Dolly Parton has been hailed as a savior thanks to her contributions to the most successful coronavirus vaccine candidate to date.

In April, the 74-year-old country music icon donated $1 million (around £756,000) to Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Nashville, Tennessee, to help fund its Covid-19 research.

Vanderbilt was involved in the development of Moderna’s jab, which has become the leading global candidate after showing almost 95 per cent effectiveness against the disease.

As health experts and scientists rejoiced at the US firm’s success, Parton fans were quick to offer credit to their idol.

“Dolly Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt for vaccine research. Vanderbilt researchers were involved in the Moderna trials. Ergo, Dolly Parton helped cure COVID,” one Twitter user calculated.

Another said her input was “further proof that @DollyParton is the greatest source of good in the world these days”.

Music critic Simon Price wrote: “In 2020, Dolly Parton’s stood up for Black Lives Matter and put $1 million towards a Covid vaccine, and the year’s not over yet.

“There’s a strong argument that America should give up the whole ‘democracy’ thing as a bad idea now, and just make Dolly Parton queen of everything.”

And former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal tweeted: “Dolly Parton part funded COVID vaccine and her library donated 130 million books to children.

“Marcus Rashford fought to feed millions of poor children and has set up a free book club. Once again, people who grew up in deprivation do the most for others.

“What have Bezos, Musk etc done?”

Speaking about her Vanderbilt donation earlier this year, Parton wrote: “My longtime friend Dr Naji Abumrad, who’s been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards research of the coronavirus for a cure.

“I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations.”

The 74-year-old is also working with her charity, The Imagination Library, to provide children with free books through the post every month.

The programme is available in all 50 US states and five countries.

A new book club launched by footballer Rashford has been likened to the initiative.

The Manchester United star is teaming up with Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB) to promote reading and literacy among children from all socio-economic backgrounds.

The first title of the partnership, YOU ARE A CHAMPION: Unlock Your Potential, Find Your Voice And Be The BEST You Can Be – an illustrated non-fiction title aimed at young people aged 11-16 – will be published in May 2021.