Singer and actress Dolly Parton helped fund the vaccine that is nearly 95% effective against the coronavirus.
“Praise the Lord!” Parton told Today hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on Tuesday. “I’m just very grateful that this is happening. And if I had anything to do with it, that’s great.”
Parton donated $1 million to COVID-19 research at Vanderbilt University in April, which partly funded Moderna’s vaccine.
The pharmaceutical company announced on Monday that its lead vaccine candidate was 94.5% effective against the coronavirus.
“This is a pivotal moment in the development of our COVID-19 vaccine candidate,” Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said on Monday. “This milestone is only possible because of the hard work and sacrifices of so many.”
Parton added in her interview that she was “proud” of her donation, which she hopes will lead to helping the country pull through the pandemic.
“I just felt so proud to have been part of that little seed money that will hopefully grow into something great and help to heal this world,” she said. “I’m a very proud girl today to know I had anything at all to do with something that’s going to help us through this crazy pandemic.”
When I donated the money to the Covid fund I just wanted it to do good and evidently, it is! Let’s just hope we can find a cure real soon. pic.twitter.com/dQgDWexO0C
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) November 17, 2020
Last week, Pfizer also announced that its coronavirus vaccine had an efficacy rate of more than 90%.
