Dolly Parton sings vaccine version of Jolene as she gets Moderna jab

Dolly Parton receives a vaccination against coronavirus 

Dolly Parton has been vaccinated with a Covid-19 jab she helped fund, and adapted one of her greatest hits to encourage people to get a coronavirus shot.

The country music star broke into song and reworked her 1973 ballad Jolene while being given the injection.

"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," the 75-year-old sang.

Parton was credited with helping fund the Moderna vaccine after donating one million dollars (about £716,000) to Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Nashville, Tennessee.

"I’m so excited. I’ve been waiting a while," she told fans in a video posted from the university. "I’m old enough to get it and I’m smart enough to get it.

"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."

America’s high levels of people who are reluctant to take a vaccine has raised fears that so many will refuse a shot that protective herd immunity is difficult to reach.

Polling released last month found French and American citizens had the highest levels of vaccine hesitancy, with four-in-ten in France saying they wouldn’t have it, and one-in-four saying the same in the USA.

Parton added: "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."

Parton masked up before inviting a doctor into the room. The medic, an old friend of Parton, praised her for urging others to get the vaccine.

After he knocked an item off the table while preparing the jab, a giggling Parton quipped: "I didn’t know you was going to be so clumsy, I hope you’re going to do better with my shot!"

After getting her first jab, Parton said: "That didn’t hurt."