Albert Bourla, the chief of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, has been presented the Genesis Prize for his efforts in leading the COVID-19 vaccine development on a global front. The prize came with a grant worth $1 million.

Bourla won the award after an intensive round of global voting, where nearly 200,000 people in 71 countries participated. The prize is given in recognition of an individual’s professional achievements, contributions to humanity and commitment to Jewish values.

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The Genesis Prize recognised Bourla for his “leadership, determination, and especially for his willingness to assume great risks.” It cited Pfizer’s decision to turn down United States government funding early in the pandemic, a decision that helped the company reduce bureaucracy and expedite the development of the vaccine, according to reports from Associated Press.

Bourla said that he will accept the award “humbly and on behalf of all my Pfizer colleagues who answered the urgent call of history”. He released a statement from the Pfizer platform.

He added in the statement, “I was brought up in a Jewish family who believed that each of us is only as strong as the bonds of our community; and that we are all called upon by God to repair the world.”

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Pfizer’s vaccine was the first to win US approval for emergency use in December 2020, and Israel quickly became one of the first countries to inoculate its population with the vaccine. It later struck a deal with the drug maker to exchange vast troves of data with the company in exchange for continued supplies of what was then a hard-to-get vaccine.  

Bourla joins a list of business leaders, artists and entertainers to win the prize. Last year’s winner was Hollywood mogul Steven Spielberg, according to reports from Associated Press.

(With AP inputs)