A Filipina nurse, who administered the first COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020 was among those feted by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth with the Gold Cross award.
Despite her fragile health, England’s long-reigning Queen Elizabeth gleefully honored Filipina nurse May Parsons, among many other healthcare professionals, for the successful COVID- 19 vaccine rollout, which the queen’s country initiated first.
The Queen bestowed the prestigious Gold Cross, the highest non-military award for gallantry, to UK’s healthcare system the National Health Service (NHS) at her residence in Windsor Castle in London. The award was also given to UK health leaders.
Parsons is the NHS nurse from Modern Matron from University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire who delivered the first COVID-19 vaccine.
“And you’re still alive!” the Queen jokingly told Parsons after learning that the Filipina administered the first COVID-19 vaccine in the world in December 2020, said a report from Business Mirror.
Britain was the first country in the world to deploy a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization.
“We’re terribly, terribly proud of the vaccination roll-out,” Parsons said.
“Yes, it was amazing,” the queen replied.
The 96—year- old monarch presented the Gold Cross medal to NHS for its work over the past 74 years and praised its COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Amanda Milling, UK Minister of State for Asia and the Middle East and Member of Parliament for Cannock Chase said Parsons’ presence before Queen Elizabeth shows that “the UK is grateful to the 30,000 Filipino nurses working for our NHS.”
“It is a recognition of her courage, compassion and dedication and indeed that of the incredible Filipino staff in the NHS. Congratulations and thank you,” UK Ambassador to Manila Laure Beaufils tweeted.
Aside from Parsons, Chief Executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, and representatives of NHS Wales, Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland attended the special investiture ceremony.
The Queen was joined by her son and heir Prince Charles at an intimate ceremony at her residence in Windsor Castle in London.
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