LONDON, June 11 (Reuters) - The Oxford University scientists
who invented the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are among those to
be honoured by Queen Elizabeth, among a number of recipients who
played key roles in Britain's coronavirus response, the
government said on Friday.
Sarah Gilbert, the Oxford Jenner Institute scientist who
co-developed the vaccine, will be made a Dame, while her
colleague, the institute's director, Adrian Hill, is to receive
an honorary Knighthood.
Andrew Pollard, the head of the Oxford Vaccine Group who ran
trials of the vaccine, is to be made a Knight Bachelor, an
honour also bestowed on Peter Horby and Martin Landray, the
Oxford scientists behind the trial which showed dexamethasone
could be used to treat severely ill COVID patients.
"The Queen’s Birthday Honours allow us to pay tribute to all
those who have gone above and beyond in their service to this
country," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement.
"Throughout the pandemic we have seen countless examples of
every day heroes."
Kate Bingham, who was praised for her work as head of the
government's Vaccines Taskforce, which procured hundreds of
millions of COVID-19 vaccines for the British government, is
also to become a Dame.
Outside the world of science, England footballers Jordan
Henderson and Raheem Sterling were also honoured in the queen's
birthday honours' list receiving MBEs (Members of the Most
Excellent Order of the British Empire) for services to charity
and racial equality in sport, respectively.
Both players are in the England soccer squad for the Euro
2020 Championships, with their first game against Croatia on
Sunday.
The head of Britain's eavesdropping agency GCHQ, Jeremy
Fleming, Scottish singer and sixties style icon Lulu and
television presenter Prue Leith, known for "The Great British
Bake-Off", are among others to be honoured in the list.
(Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Astrazeneca (AZN)
