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

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

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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.

The director general of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, Obaid Al Shamsi, taking the vaccine. Wam
The director general of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, Obaid Al Shamsi, taking the vaccine. Wam

"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.