Parents urged to check children’s vaccination records and catch up on any missed doses.
Dubai: As schools across the UAE prepare to reopen next week, parents are being urged to make vaccination checks a priority before children return to the classroom.
Dr Shereena Khamis Al Mazrouei, department manager of health promotion and public health programme at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, stressed that parents play an important role in ensuring their children’s vaccinations remain up to date.
“The start of a new school year brings renewed focus on children’s health and wellbeing,” Al Mazrouei told Gulf News, noting that children may be more exposed to common infections when they return to classrooms.
Parents are advised to review their children’s routine immunisation records and check whether they are due for any age-appropriate booster doses. Keeping vaccinations up to date can help maintain protection against preventable diseases and ensure children meet school health requirements.
MMR, DTaP and other vaccines
Dr Vishrut Singh, specialist paediatrician at Aster Clinic, advised parents to review their children’s vaccination records carefully rather than assuming they are fully up to date.
He recommended checking the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination schedule, DTaP/Tdap (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) boosters and, for older students, meningococcal vaccination status.
Singh said the MMR vaccine deserves particular attention this year, amid a sharp rise in measles cases reported worldwide in 2026.
If a child has received only one MMR dose or is due for a second, parents should consult their paediatrician about completing the recommended schedule. Ideally, vaccinations should be completed at least two weeks before school starts, allowing time for immunity to develop.
Parents should also check their child’s varicella (chickenpox) vaccination status, Dr Singh said, as this dose can sometimes be missed among children who received part of their vaccination schedule outside the UAE.
Consider the flu vaccineThe seasonal influenza vaccine is another vaccination parents may want to consider as children return to school, according to Dr Puneet Wadhwa, consultant paediatrician at Prime Hospital.
Wadhwa said this year’s flu vaccine is expected to become available shortly, potentially during the first week of September. “The flu vaccine should be taken if it is available before children return to school, or at the beginning of the school term,” Wadhwa said.
Families travelling to certain destinations should seek medical advice on appropriate preventive measures, including yellow fever vaccination for relevant destinations in Africa and malaria prophylaxis for countries where malaria is prevalent.
He also advised parents to arrange any outstanding routine vaccinations as soon as possible, rather than delaying them until later in the academic year.
Travel calls for extra care
Families whose children have travelled internationally during the summer should take additional health precautions before the new school term begins.
Dr Riham Ismail, specialist paediatrician at Medcare Women and Children Hospital, said health checks for children who have travelled should take into account the destination, duration of the trip and specific health risks associated with the area.
International travel can expose children to different environments and communities, while disruptions to their usual routines may also result in scheduled vaccinations being missed.
“If parents are unsure about their child’s vaccination status, they should consult their paediatrician, who can review the records and recommend any required vaccines or catch-up doses,” Ismail said.
She also advised families to keep both digital and physical copies of their children’s vaccination records, particularly if they travel frequently or have recently moved.
Back-to-school healthDoctors stressed that vaccination is just one part of a child’s overall health and wellbeing. The final weeks of the summer break can provide an opportunity for families to gradually restore routines that may have been disrupted by travel.
Parents can start adjusting bedtimes to align with the school schedule, ensure children eat balanced meals and encourage regular physical activity. Mental wellbeing should also be considered as part of back-to-school preparations.
The message from UAE health experts is clear: preparing children for the new school year involves more than buying uniforms and stationery. Reviewing vaccinations in advance, re-establishing healthy routines and supporting children’s physical and emotional wellbeing can help ensure they return to school healthy, confident and ready to learn.
