Rulers, King, Queen, 2 popes, ex-presidents, public figures who have received the COVID-19 vaccine

More than 468 million COVID-19 shots had been given across 135 countries as of March 21, 2021, according to Bloomberg data. But disinformation about vaccines abound, especially on social media, which explains high vaccine hesitancy rates in certain countries. These are some of the famous people who have shared their voice to drum up the biggest immunisation drive in history.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on November 3, 2020. On January 12, 2021, Shaikh Mohammed posted on Twitter: "The UAE has made great strides in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, we are ranked the second globally in the vaccine administration rates. Taking the vaccine is every individual's responsibility to protect their health, families and wider society."

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, 85, received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine in Neom on Jan. 8, 2021.

His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on January 10, 2021.

Lt. General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, received the COVID-19 vaccine shot on October 20, 2020.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, received the first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine on January 13, 2021.

In England, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, also received their COVID-19 vaccinations on January 17, 2021. Buckingham Palace officials said in a statement that the 94-year-old monarch and Philip, 99, received their jabs. The injections were administered at Windsor Castle, where the queen and her husband have been spending their time during the lockdown in England.

While still US president-elect, Joe Biden publicly received his shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 21, 2020 at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware.

January 14, 2021, both Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Vatican. Pope Francis also on his official Twitter handle on March 1, 2021: "I ask government leaders, businesses, international organizations to cooperate and to seek a solution for everyone regarding #Covid: vaccines for everyone, especially for the world's most vulnerable and needy people.

Former US presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are inspiring hope after they received their COVID-19 vaccines. Former President George W Bush and former first lady Laura Bush received their shots at the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Hillcrest, in Texas.

Former US President Barack Obama also joined other former US Presidents in a made-for-TV vaccine education campaign titled “It’s Up To You.”

The Carters' statement of getting a COVID-9 vaccine.

Actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzengger was in good spirits as he received his COVID-19 vaccine on January 21, 2021 at Dodger Stadium, even quoting lines from his movies for fun.

Hussain Al Jassmi, popular Emirati musician, receiving COVID-19 vaccine

Bollywood star and former Miss World Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared a tweet by UNICEF India, stating: “Bravo India! Congratulations to Indian authorities, medical & health teams for starting off the massive Covid vaccination drive. Forever grateful to our frontline heroes who have been risking their lives this past year to save others.”

Indian actor Sanjay Dutt posted Twitter picture showing himself getting the COVID-19 vaccine on March 23, 2021.

Famous Bollywood actor Anupam took his COVID-19 on March 9, 2021.

Paul McCartney, 78, is among the among the first global superstars to be inoculated with the COVID-19 shot. McCartney said he believed the vaccine offers the world a way out from the doom-and-gloom of the COVID pandemic.

Football legend Pele, 80, gives the thumbs up as he gets his Covid vaccination on an 'unforgettable day'. Pele posted on March 3, 2021 a picture on his Instagram of him getting the coronavirus vaccine

On January 17, 2021, US actor stated on Twitter: "Thank you all, and thank you science." The iconic comic and movie star revealed that he had received what is assumed to be his first round of COVID-19 vaccination, which was the "good news". He added the "bad news" is that he is old, and that's the reason he got it ahead of younger people.

Mohanlal

Veteran Telugu actor Nagarjuna has happily received the COVID-19 vaccine in Hyderabad and on March 17, 2021, and has urged others to get theirs too.

British actor Ian McKellen, who played the wizard Gandalf in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies, said he was euphoric after receiving his first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on December 17, 2021. He also urged everyone who was offered the jab to accept it.

American singer Dolly Parton was vaccinated on March 3, 2021, in a long line of celebrities who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The country icon received the Moderna jab, which she partly funded, and shared the moment on Instagram, joking that she had got “a dose of her own medicine”.