Albert Bourla, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer, has won the $1 million Genesis Prize for his efforts to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. The award is given every year to a person for their professional achievements, contributions to humanity and commitment to Jewish values.

The Genesis Prize Foundation said that Bourla had got the most significant votes in an online campaign in which 71 countries participated. The foundation praised him for his leadership, determination, and willingness to take substantial risks. It also mentioned Pfizer’s decision to refuge US government funding early in the pandemic, which helped the company decrease bureaucracy and expedited the development of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Pfizer’s vaccine was the first to win approval for emergency use in December 2020 from the US government. Israel was one of the first countries to vaccinate its population with Pfizer’s vaccine. It also made a deal with the drug maker to exchange extensive data with the company in exchange for continued vaccine supplies. The deal helped Israel to fight against Covid-19 and has provided valuable data for researchers.