Dolly Parton donated $1m to Moderna Covid-19 vaccine research

Moderna says it will seek approval of regulators in the US in the coming weeks and expects to have 20 million doses available

A health worker takes a swab sample from a tourist coming from Mexico on his arrival at the Jose Marti International Airport amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Havana, Cuba. Reuters

A health worker collects a sample for a Covid-19 test from a baby who arrived in a flight from Mexico at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba. AP Photo

A city worker wearing mask to help protect against the spread of coronavirus, cleans a sidewalk, in Ankara, Turkey. AP Photo

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An employee sanitises a Hindu temple in Mumbai, India. India is second in the world in total reported coronavirus cases behind the US, but daily infections have been on the decline since mid-September. AP Photo

An employee sanitises a cinema in Mumbai, India. India is second in the world in total reported coronavirus cases behind the US, but daily infections have been on the decline since mid-September. AP Photo

A catholic worshipper holds a sign reading 'Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us' as he takes part with others in a rally in Strasbourg, eastern France, held to protest against a ban on the celebration of masses because of the coronavirus restrictions. AFP

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A Catholic believer holds a sign reading 'Allow us to pray' as she takes part in a rally in Strasbourg, eastern France, against a ban on the celebration of masses due to coronavirus restrictions. AFP

The Regent Street Christmas lights entitled 'The Spirit of Christmas' stand illuminated after being switched on without a formal ceremony amid England's second coronavirus lockdown, in London. AP Photo

Pastor Regan King, centre, of the Angel church in north London holds a service in near-by Myddelton Square Gardens after striking a deal with the police to hold the service outside. AFP

The Ballard Farmers Market, seen shortly after Washington Governor Jay Inslee's executive orders to combat Covid-19 in Seattle's Ballard neighbourhood. At right is San Fermo, an Italian restaurant's outdoor seating geodome. AP

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A major motorway linking the capital Beirut to northern Lebanon, is mostly empty of cars during a two-week lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus in Dbayeh, Lebanon. AP Photo

An empty street during the new lockdown in Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanese authorities imposed the lockdown due to the rise of Covid-19 cases in the country. EPA

American country music star Dolly Parton has donated $1 million towards the development of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine.

In April, a month after the spread of the virus reached pandemic levels, the singer-songwriter donated the money to research after a friend at Tennessee's Vanderbilt University said they had been making some exciting developments.

In a trial involving 30,000 people in the US, with half being given two doses of the vaccine, four weeks apart, the Moderna vaccine was found to be 95 per cent effective.

Moderna says it will apply to regulators in the US in the coming weeks and expects to have 20 million doses available.

It hopes to have up to one billion doses available for use around the world next year and is planning to seek approval in other countries too – the UK has also announced that, from spring, it will have five million doses of the vaccine, enough to vaccinate 2.5 million people.

Ms Parton's donation has also supported research papers and a study into convalescent plasma, where infected people are treated with the plasma of others carrying antibodies against the virus.

She has been a longtime supporter of charities, especially those related to literacy. She established the Imagination Library in 1995, which sends one book per month to children from the time of their birth until they enter kindergarten.

Like Pfizer, which announced last week that it had developed a vaccine that is 90 per cent effective, Moderna released only early data from their trial. There is more work to be done before they will know if the vaccine really is safe and effective.