Head of UAE's crisis authority takes Covid-19 vaccine

The UAE has authorised the emergency use of the vaccine to protect health workers

A volunteer undergoes a check-up before being accepted to the Covid-19 vaccine trial at Adnec. Victor Besa / The National

Vaccine volunteers at the Adnec volunteer facility. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers read information about the Covid-19 vaccine trial at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National

Vaccine volunteers wait to be screened at the Adnec facility. Victor Besa / The National

A volunteer has his heart rate checked after registering to take part in the Covid-19 clinical trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait to be screened and injected with the Covid-19 vaccine at Adnec. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers are led to a stall where they are screened and vaccinated as part of the Covid-19 vaccine trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait to be screened and injected with the Covid-19 vaccine at Adnec. Victor Besa / The National

Nurses update medical records as part of the Covid-19 vaccine trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A mother-of-three, 41, has volunteered as part of the Covid-19 vaccine trial because her husband is in the aviation industry, which has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National

A volunteer, 26, takes part in the Covid-19 vaccine trial to give back and support the UAE. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait their turn to be screened and inoculated with the first of two Covid-19 vaccines. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait their turn to be inoculated with the first of two Covid-19 vaccines. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers register to take part in the Covid-19 vaccine trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Staff take a selfie in front of the monitor that displays the number of volunteers who have been vaccinated since the start if the trial. Victor Besa / The National

A monitor displays the number of volunteers who have received their first vaccine since the trial began. Victor Besa / The National

A volunteer waits her turn to get a medical check up at the Covid-19 vaccine trial facility in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers read information about the Covid-19 vaccine trial at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers for the Covid-19 vaccine trial wait to be screened at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National

The chief of the UAE disaster and crisis authority has been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Obaid Al Shamsi, director general of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (Ncema), received the dose on Tuesday, Wam reported.

The jab, which was developed in a testing operation between the UAE and China, was approved for use last month after extensive tests found the vaccine to be safe and effective.

"In alignment with the leadership's vision, the availability of this safe, effective vaccine will contribute to save and protect lives,'' said Mr Al Shamsi.

The UAE's health minister, Abdulrahman Al Owais, said the vaccine could be used in "cases of emergency" involving healthcare staff.

He said extensive tests involving 31,000 volunteers had shown the vaccine to be safe.

The vaccine was developed by Chinese company Sinopharm, where the first and second phases of the trials were successfully conducted. The UAE was chosen for the third phase of the trial.

Mr Al Owais also took the jab last month.