Coronavirus: Senior Abu Dhabi Police officer receives Covid-19 vaccine

Lt Col Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, the force's director of special patrols, is latest menber of the force to be immunised

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    

A senior Abu Dhabi Police officer has become the latest high-ranking member of the force to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

Lt Col Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, director of special patrols, was shown taking the jab in a picture released by Abu Dhabi Police on Saturday.

Maj Gen Maktoum Al Sharifi, director general of Abu Dhabi Police, was shown being immunised against the virus earlier this week.

Maj Gen Al Sharifi said 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 said.

On Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced he had had the jab.

“While receiving the Covid-19 vaccine today. We wish everyone safety and great health,” Sheikh Mohammed posted on Twitter.

“And we are proud of our teams who have worked relentlessly to make the vaccine available in the UAE.”

The country hosted a Phase-3 trial which involved 31,000 volunteers in the Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan.

The vaccine has since been administered to frontline medical workers, senior officials and some members of the Cabinet, after it received approval from the UAE Government in September for limited use.

Among the other high-profile leaders to be vaccinated was 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 jab.

Leading UAE figures receive Covid-19 vaccination: