Cabinet minister Mohammed Al Gergawi receives Covid-19 vaccine

The jab was approved for limited use in the UAE in September

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid receives the Sinopharm vaccine to protect against Covid-19 on November 3, 2020. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak receives the first of two shots of a vaccine that was trialled in the UAE. Wam

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, receives the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Mansoor

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, gets the Sinopharm jab.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, receives the Covid-19 Sinopharm vaccine on Saturday, October 31. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, receives his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday. Wam

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, takes the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Twitter

Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, UAE Fatwa Council, is vaccinated with the Sinopharm innoculation on January 4, 2021. Wam

Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed, chair of Abu Dhabi's Executive Office, takes the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Media Office

The UAE's health minister, Abdulrahman Al Owais, receives the Sinopharm vaccine.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, gives a thumbs up as he is vaccinated against Covid-19.

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, president of the UAE Football Association, receives the Covid-19 vaccine.

Khalifa bin Dary, executive director of Dubai Ambulance Services Corporation, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Lt Col Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, director of special patrols at Abu Dhabi Police, receives the Covid-19 vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Police    

Maj Gen Mohammed Al Marri, director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Maj Gen Talal Al Falasi, director general of Dubai's State Security Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Abdullah Al Falasi, director general of Dubai Government Human Resources Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Amer Sharif, head of Dubai's Covid-10 Command and Control Centre, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Obaid Al Shamsi, director general of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, takes the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine

Mohammed Al Gergawi became the latest minister to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, on Saturday.

The UAE Government’s Twitter account shared a picture of the Minister of Cabinet Affairs receiving the injection, manufactured by the Chinese drug maker Sinopharm.

“Mr Al Gergawi has emphasised the role of the health sector and medical personnel and their contributions to support the country's efforts to address the pandemic,” said the post.

The jab has been administered to frontline medical workers, senior officials and some members of the Cabinet since receiving approval for limited use in the UAE in September.

On Sunday, Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, president of the UAE Football Association and a member of Ajman's ruling family, also received the vaccine, state news agency Wam reported.

He said he looked forward to "victory over the virus"

Other ministers to have received the vaccine include Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, the Minister of Tolerance, among others.

Overall around 31,000 volunteers have taken part in Phase-3 of the UAE trial, which was extended to Jordan and Bahrain in limited numbers.

The UAE was chosen to conduct the study as it is home to over 200 nationalities, giving an insight into how multiple ethnicities respond.

The trial began here in July and is now in its final stages.

Another study to test a Covid-19 vaccine developed in Russia is due to get under way soon.

Russia has said it intends to reveal the results for the vaccine, which has also received limited approval, in late November.

In total, six vaccines across the world have now achieved limited approval status, which will be followed by full approval if they are deemed to be safe and effective.