United Arab Emirates is one for the few nations which has approved human consumption of vaccine shot of a Chinese candidate under phase III trial. Last week many of the country’s high officials and leaders received the shot, publicly showing themselves receiving the dose.

Last week on Monday, Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister and interior minister, received the shot of COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine was manufactured by the China National Biotec Group, a subsidiary of the giant China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation, Sinopharm.

Besides him, Gen Maktoum Al Sharifi, director general of Abu Dhabi Police, also received the immunity. He said that he was “happy and proud to be one of the people who took the vaccine for the noble goal of beating this virus”. “Abu Dhabi Police believes in the importance of collective efforts spent in protecting our society from all risks. [It] is a national responsibility,” he added.

On Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also took the vaccine jab. He shared his experience on Twitter saying, “While receiving the COVID-19 vaccine today. We wish everyone safety and great health, and we are proud of our teams who have worked relentlessly to make the vaccine available in the UAE. The future will always be better in the UAE.”

Latest addition to the list is senior Abu Dhabi Police official, Lt Col Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan. Sheikh Al Nahyan, the director of special patrols, took the shot on Saturday and his picture while taking the jab was shared by Abu Dhabi Police.

Among the other high-profile leaders, who got the vaccine shot, were Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed, chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office. The Minister of Health and Prevention, Abdulrahman Al Owais, and chief of the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority, Obaid Al Shamsi, have also received the precautionary dose.

Recently, UAE offered to volunteer a Phase-3 trial for a Chinese vaccine, Sinopharm which was given to 31,000 individuals in the Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan. The vaccine was mainly given to frontline medical workers, senior officials and some members of the Cabinet. The vaccine shots were given after it gained approval from the UAE Government in September for limited use.