Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/dolly-parton-on-the-importance-of-getting-vaccinated-against-covid-19 Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio Beloved country star Dolly Parton, who helped fund the Moderna vaccine, received her COVID-19 shot 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. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. 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. Listen to this Segment Watch Watch the Full Episode PBS NewsHour from Mar 03, 2021