Study Room, Malacañan Palace
June 29, 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. warmly received Ms. May Richell Cestina-Parsons, the Filipino-British nurse who administered the world’s first Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine outside of clinical trials, in a courtesy call at the Study Room in Malacañan Palace.

Ms. Parsons administered the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to 90-year old Margaret Keenan — who also became the first person to receive the said jab — at a hospital in Coventry, England on December 8, 2020.

During their meeting, the President bestowed a Presidential Citation to the Filipina nurse, which reads as follows: “In recognition of her exemplary contributions, dedication to service, and exceptional leadership; For bringing honor and prestige to the Philippines and the Filipino people in being the first in the world to administer the COVID-19 vaccine outside of clinical trials; and For her steadfast efforts in promoting and advocating for the Philippines, Filipino nurses, and other healthcare professionals.”

Born and raised in the Philippines, Ms. Parsons finished her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila. In 2003, she flew to the United Kingdom to work for the National Health Service (NHS).

In July last year, she received on behalf of the NHS the prestigious George Cross award – the British government’s highest non-military award for gallantry — presented by the late Queen Elizabeth II in honor of the NHS work over the past seven decades, and all the health leaders and workers from across the UK for their service throughout the pandemic.

Ms. Parsons is set to establish a charity to help her fellow Filipino nurses, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to achieve Nursing qualification throughout their career paths locally or abroad. (https://www.mayparsonsfoundation.com/)

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