A nurse from Coventry is celebrated for being the first person in the world to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine to a patient outside of a clinical trial.
May Parsons administered the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to Margaret Keenan at University Hospital, Coventry, on 8 December 2020.
Ms May, who graduated from Coventry University in 2022 with a masters in healthcare, is the first to be featured in a new campaign by the university.
The Made in Coventry campaign celebrates alumni whose careers are making a difference in their communities.
Ms May delivering the vaccine opened doors for her and even got to meet the late Queen Elizabeth II.
She said: “I’ve had incredible experiences that I’ve never even imagined possible in my lifetime, such as meeting Queen Elizabeth.
“I know that my role is adding value to people’s lives every day and that the consequences of my actions make an impact in the community, in the country and in the world.”
She said she could look back and tell her teenage self that choosing nursing had been the right decision.
“I followed my heart and now I am exactly where I wanted to be, still as passionate, if not more,” she added.
Originally from the Philippines, Ms May said she was proud to represent international nurses in the UK.
She said: “The vaccination campaign also helped me to find my identity as an immigrant and internationally educated nurse. It empowered me to use my voice.
“Although I wasn’t born here, my passion and compassion remain unwavering. This is now my community and my commitment to serving our people remains the same.
“I am blessed to be able to have this platform and represent nurses, women, immigrants and mothers.”
May said the role of nurses and health and social care workers had been recognised during the pandemic.
She said: “I hope that in the future, the support and love we receive does not diminish.
“I hope people remember the sacrifices we made and the risks we took to fulfil the jobs we love.
“My advice to anyone considering a career in the NHS and social care is to be passionate about what you do and to maintain a sense of curiosity.”