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Filipino nurse who administered first Covid-19 vaccine receives UK's George Cross award

Philippines

Filipino nurse who administered first Covid-19 vaccine receives UK's George Cross award

By Jaleen Ramos

The Filipino nurse who first injected the Covid-19 vaccine dose in the world was bestowed the prestigious George Cross award in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 13.

NHS England CEO Amanda Pritchard (L), and May Parsons, Modern Matron at University Hospital Coventry and Warkwickshire, representatives of Britain's National Health Service (NHS), pose with a George Cross medal awarded to NHS England during an Audience at Windsor Castle, west of London on July 12, 2022. - Queen Elizabeth II praised Tuesday the "amazing" Covid-19 vaccine rollout, awarding the National Health Service (NHS) the George Cross. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP)

May Parsons was the first nurse to inject the Covid-19 vaccine on December 8, 2020.

UK’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles presented the award to the National Health Service (NHS) at Windsor Castle.

Parsons, along with NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard, received the prestigious award on behalf of the 1.5 million staff working for the NHS in England.

“I’m deeply honoured to represent the wonderful and dedicated people within the NHS and Social Care who have shown up everyday to care for our people and communities despite the challenges and sacrifices we've had to take posed by the Covid-19 Pandemic,” Parsons said in a Facebook post.

“We remember our fallen colleagues who have given the ultimate sacrifice and I cannot be more proud of our achievements as a whole. The George Cross is a fitting tribute as we continue to fulfill our pledge to care and to serve our communities,” she added.

The George Cross is the highest civilian award granted by the British government “for acts of gallantry of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.”

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