Vaccination Schedule for Expats in UAE Schools

UAE schools have strict vaccine requirements for children from birth until the age of 16 as a measure to protect student health and create safe learning environments. All children, including expat children, must meet the requirements to be accepted into schools in the UAE. 

In this Pacific Prime Dubai article, we will explain the mandatory vaccine schedule for children in the UAE and vaccination record guidelines for expats sending children to UAE schools. We’ll also explain why health insurance will be beneficial for you and your family in the UAE. 

UAE School Vaccination Requirement Schedules

As part of the National Immunization Program, schools in the UAE enforce strict vaccination requirements for children from birth until 16 years of age to ensure high vaccination coverage, protect public health, and prevent the spread of infectious diseases among children.

The UAE takes proactive policies that aim to prevent diseases and promote the overall health of the nation. From birth, infants must go through examinations and screenings to detect neonatal genetic diseases. Some of these include: 

• Phenylketonuria
• Endocrine insufficiency
• Sickle cell anemia
• Congenital malformations
• Biotin deficiency disease
• Diseases of amino acids, organic and fatty (mass spectrometer)
• Galactosemia

Other tests include cardiac condition screenings and hearing tests to identify hereditary hearing loss in newborns. 

Each age group has specific immunization recommendations to effectively create immunizations against the transmissible diseases. Mandatory vaccines, therefore, should be injected according to this schedule.

Vaccinations at Birth 

When a baby is born, they should receive the following vaccinations:

• BCG (single dose): against tuberculosis
• Hep B (first dose): against hepatitis B, a serious liver infection

Vaccinations at Two Months 

When a baby is two months old, they should receive the following vaccinations:

• Hexavalent (first dose): against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type B
• PCV13 (first dose): against pneumococcal bacteria infections, which can cause pneumonia and meningitis
• RV1 (first dose): against rotavirus infections

Vaccinations at Four Months 

When a baby is four months old, they should receive the following vaccinations:

• Hexavalent (second dose): against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type B

• PCV13 (second dose): against pneumococcal bacteria infections, which can cause pneumonia and meningitis

• RV1 (second dose): against rotavirus infections

Vaccinations at Six Months

When a baby is six months old, they should receive the following vaccinations:

• Hexavalent (third dose): against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type B

• PCV13 (third dose): against pneumococcal bacteria infections, which can cause pneumonia and meningitis

• bOPV (firstdose): against type one and  three poliovirus

Vaccinations at 12 Months

When a baby is twelve months old, they should receive the following vaccinations:

• MMR (first dose): against measles, mumps, and rubella
• Var (first dose): against varicella (chickenpox)

Vaccinations at 18 Months

When a baby is 18 months old, they should receive the following vaccinations:

• DTaP-Hib-IPV (firstdose): against diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type B
• bOPV (second dose): against type one and three poliovirus
• MMR (second dose): against measles, mumps, and rubella

Vaccinations at Grade One

When a child reaches grade one, they should receive the following vaccinations:

• DTaP-IPV (booster dose): against diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis (whooping cough), and polio

• bOPV (third dose): against type 1 & 3 poliovirus

• MMR (third dose): against measles, mumps and rubella
• Var (second dose): against varicella (chickenpox)

Vaccinations at Grade Eight

When a child reaches grade eight, they should receive the following vaccinations:

• HPV9 (female only): two doses with the second delivered six to twelve months after the first, against nine types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause various cancers and genital warts

Vaccinations at Grade 11 

When a child reaches grade 11, they should receive the following vaccinations:

• Tdap (booster dose): against diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis (whooping cough)
• MCV4 (single dose): against meningococcal disease, leading to brain and spinal cord infections and blood infections

Healthcare Facilities for Vaccination Schedules

Vaccination services are available at public and private facilities and through school programs. Children under the age of five may receive free vaccines at public facilities across the emirates, with the Emirates Health Services and SEHA application providing an online appointment booking service. 

Some of the vaccination facilities in different Emirates include:

• Dubai: Al Aweer Health Center, Al Muhaisnah Health Center, Al Ittidad Health Center
• Abu Dhabi: Corniche Hospital, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City
• Other Northern Emirates: Al Riqqa Health Center, Al Hamidyia Health Center, Al Salama Health Center, Al Hemrania Health Center, Al Bidiya Health Center

For more detailed information, check out How to Get Free Infant Vaccinations as an Expat in the UAE.

Vaccination Records for School Enrollment

Vaccination records are mandatory for school enrollment. Otherwise, children who are unable to display an updated vaccination record may be denied school entry until compliance is met.  

For expats with children born in the UAE, parents must keep track of their children’s vaccination records and follow the mandatory vaccination guidelines. Meanwhile, expats planning to enroll their children in UAE schools must provide vaccination records that meet the country’s requirements.

For Expats with Children Born in the UAE

Expats with children born in the UAE can simply follow the guidelines given above. However, if records are lost or unavailable, the child will be treated as unvaccinated and offered a catch-up schedule. The same applies to those who miss or delay any vaccine doses to provide the optimal protection. 

In addition, the UAE has updated a new feature to the Al Hosn app to help parents keep track of their children’s vaccination records. It also acts as an immunization certificate in situations where vaccines are required, including school enrollment.  

For Expats Considering Moving to the UAE with Family

Children moving to school in the UAE from other countries must receive all necessary vaccines required by the UAE government to be accepted into any educational institutions. If your child has not received all the required vaccines from your home country, you may take the following steps:  

• Visit a healthcare provider in the UAE: Vaccination clinics may review your child’s vaccination history and identify which are incomplete or missing. 
• Start a catch-up vaccination schedule: The healthcare provider will create a plan to administer the missed vaccines as soon as possible, according to the UAE’s National Immunization Program guidelines. 
• Access free vaccinations if eligible: In government health centers across the UAE, children up to age five (including expats with valid residency visas) can receive free vaccinations
• Check health insurance coverage: Private health insurance often covers vaccinations, but coverage varies, so confirm with your provider.
• Ensure vaccination records are updated digitally: The UAE uses the Al Hosn app to track vaccination status, which schools require for enrollment and attendance.

International families may consult with local healthcare providers to understand specific vaccination requirements, as recommendations may vary based on the student’s age, health status, and previous immunization history.

Get In Touch With Pacific Prime

Navigating the healthcare system in the UAE can be confusing, especially for families with young children. With the strict requirements for childhood vaccinations, it is important that expat parents keep up with all the schedules to ensure that our children can thrive in safe environments.

Private health insurance provides coverage for routine childhood vaccination in private facilities where services are faster and English-speaking staff are available. Some plans also include broader preventive or optional vaccines such as HPV, Influenza, and other vaccines for traveling.

As an international health insurance broker with 25 years of experience, Pacific Prime Dubai can help find international health insurance that best fit for expats’ needs and family health insurance in Dubai to ensure comprehensive coverage of all your loved ones. 

Contact us today for a FREE quote comparison.