Dolly Parton on the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19

Judy Woodruff:

Finally tonight: a message from country star Dolly Parton.

Parton, who helped fund the development of the Moderna vaccine, received her COVID-19 shot on Tuesday, getting what she called a dose of her own medicine.

In a video posted to social media, she encourages us all to do the same.

Dolly Parton:

Well, hey, it's me. I'm finally going to get my vaccine. I'm so excited. I have been waiting a while. I'm old enough to get it, and I'm smart enough to get it.

So, I'm very happy that I'm going to get my Moderna shot today. And I wanted to tell everybody that you should get out there and do it, too. I even changed one of my songs to fit the occasion.

It goes:

(singing):

Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I'm begging of you, please, don't hesitate. Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, because once you're dead, then that's a bit too late.

(LAUGHTER)

I know I'm trying to be funny now, but I'm dead serious about the vaccine.

I think we all want to get back to normal, whatever that is, and that would be a great shot in the arm, wouldn't it, if we could get back to that.

But, anyhow, I just wanted to encourage everybody, because the sooner we get to feeling better, the sooner we are going to get back to being normal.

So, I just want to say to all of you cowards out there, don't be such a chicken squat. Get out there and get your shot.

Anyway, that's my message to you.

So, I am going to call on my friend, Dr. Naji Abumrad, that has worked in research here at Vanderbilt. That's where I am today. And he's going to pop me in my arm, and so I'm going to call him in. I'm going to mask up first, though, because I have a pretty good distance from me and the camera.

So, I'm going to try to put this on, and get that on, get my hair back around, so I look good. You know we got to look good.

(LAUGHTER)

OK, Dr. Naji, get in here and give me a shot.

You think you got it?

Dr. Naji Abumrad:

I got it.

Dolly Parton:

OK. That didn't hurt. Just stung a little bit, but that was from the alcohol pad, I think?

Dr. Naji Abumrad:

Yes.

Dolly Parton:

Right? OK. All right.

Hey I did it. I did it.

Judy Woodruff:

One and only Dolly Parton. I'm still trying to figure out what a chicken squat is. I'm going to look it up.

Thank you, Dolly.