UAE back-to-school checklist: The vaccines parents should check now
Dubai: With the new school year approaching, parents across the UAE are being urged to make children’s preventive health a priority, starting with a review of routine vaccinations and any booster doses due for their age. Health experts say the weeks before school begins are also an opportunity for families to reset sleep schedules, encourage physical activity, restore healthy eating habits, and…
Dubai: As the new academic year draws near, UAE parents are encouraged to prioritize their children's preventive health, starting with a review of vaccinations and any required booster doses. Health experts suggest that the weeks preceding school commencement are an ideal time for families to re-establish healthy routines, address children's concerns, and ensure they are prepared for the classroom environment.
Dr. Shereena Khamis Al Mazrouei, from Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, emphasizes the importance of parents maintaining their children's vaccination records current. She notes that as students return to school, they are more susceptible to common infections. She advises parents to review routine immunizations and any age-appropriate booster doses to ensure adequate protection in line with school health requirements.
Additionally, she recommends considering the seasonal flu vaccine as an extra layer of protection during the school year.
However, Al Mazrouei stresses that vaccination is just one aspect of a child's overall health. She encourages parents to focus on healthy eating, regular physical activity, quality sleep, and mental wellbeing. As the summer holiday winds down, parents can gradually restore their children's routines, including bedtimes, meal times, and physical activity levels.
Dr. Vishrut Singh, a specialist pediatrician at Aster Clinic, advises parents to pay special attention to specific vaccines, such as MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Dtap/Tdap (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), and meningococcal vaccines. He highlights the rising global cases of measles in 2026 and stresses that if a child has received only one MMR dose or is due for a second dose, parents should consult their pediatrician to complete the schedule. Ideally, this should be done at least two weeks before school starts to allow immunity to develop.
Dr. Riham Ismail, a specialist pediatrician at Medcare Women and Children Hospital, emphasizes that the health review should be tailored to the child's travel history if applicable. She points out that international travel exposes children to different environments and health risks, and missing vaccinations due to disrupted routines is a common issue. Ismail advises parents to consult their pediatrician to review vaccination records and recommend any necessary vaccines or catch-up doses.
Dr. Puneet Wadhwa, a consultant pediatrician at Prime Hospital, points out that seasonal influenza vaccination should also be considered as children return to school. This year's flu vaccine is expected to be available around September. Wadhwa advises parents to arrange any outstanding routine vaccinations as soon as possible to avoid delays in the academic year.
He also advises families traveling internationally to seek advice on preventive measures, such as yellow fever vaccination for specific African destinations and malaria prophylaxis for countries where malaria is prevalent.
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