Schools across the UAE are collaborating with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to offer free measles vaccinations to primary school students on campus this November as part of the National Measles Campaign. The program mandates the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine for children aged one to seven, with exemptions only for those with documented medical conditions.
The Knowledge and Development Authority (KHDA) has urged schools to emphasize the importance of completing the recommended two-dose MMR vaccine schedule. The UAE typically administers the first MMR dose at 12 months and the second at 18 months, with an added booster now required.
School nurses are undergoing special training to administer these vaccines at qualified clinics within schools. Principals are actively encouraging parents to register their children, and schools are sharing informational guides and consent forms to address any parental concerns.
“Team Amity has been proactive in reaching out to our community, ensuring parents are well-informed and prepared for their children’s vaccinations,” said Sangita Chima, Principal at Amity School Dubai, in a Khaleej Times report. Schools like Ambassador School have already received positive parental responses, with many parents submitting consent forms.
Medical experts note in the same Khaleej Times report that while there has not been a significant rise in measles cases in the UAE, measles remains a contagious disease that can cause fever, rash, and in some cases, complications. Dr. Sherif Mohamed Mosaad Kamel, a consultant pediatrician at Zulekha Hospital Dubai, emphasized the importance of vaccination to maintain high immunity levels and prevent outbreaks.
Health authorities continue to stress the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine in preventing measles, reinforcing the role of high vaccination rates in community protection.
