Not to be left behind in the COVID-19 wave, Mattel’s Barbie doll has decided to become a COVID vaccine developer. The COVID Barbie is a miniature of real-life Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID vaccine co-developer Sarah Gilbert.

The doll is among six women being honored with their own Barbie images. The other five are U.S. health care workers Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz and emergency room nurse Amy O’Sullivan; Canadian doctor Chicka Stacy Oriuwa; Brazilian biomedical researcher Dr. Jaqueline Goes de Jesus and Australian doctor and protective gown developer Kirby White.

Mattel’s senior vice president and global head of Barbie and Dolls, Lisa McKnight, told NPR that the dolls were created in the hopes to inspire the next generation “to take after these heroes.”

SOURCE: NPR August 5, 2021