Before a child starts school in Dubai, the school asks for an up-to-date vaccination record. Around age 4 to 6, the pre-school boosters are due: the DTaP-IPV booster against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio, plus second doses of MMR and chickenpox vaccine. Check your child’s card two or three months before registration, so any missing dose can be given calmly.

Which vaccines are due before school entry?

The pre-school round, at 4 to 6 years, boosts protection built up in the first years. In the clinic’s UAE schedule, it includes:

Vaccine Protects against
DTaP-IPV (booster) Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio
MMR (second dose) Measles, mumps, rubella
Varicella (second dose) Chickenpox

These boosters matter for your child and for the classroom. High vaccination coverage also protects the few children who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

Your pediatrician will confirm which doses your child still needs, because some may already have been completed earlier. For the full list from birth, see our guides to the UAE childhood vaccination schedule and the UAE baby vaccine schedule.

What do UAE schools ask for?

Nurseries and schools across the UAE ask for proof of immunisation when you register your child. An incomplete record can delay enrolment. In practice, schools want to see a complete, up-to-date vaccination card that matches the national schedule for your child’s age.

Requirements and forms can vary between schools, so check your school’s registration list and ask which document they need. If you are unsure about the national schedule, the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the WHO publish guidance.

How early should I check my child’s record?

Two or three months before school registration is ideal. The pre-school window is when many gaps are found, such as a missed booster or a card that was never updated. A review that early leaves time to give any catch-up doses without a last-minute rush.

Bring:

  • your child’s vaccination card or booklet
  • any hospital or clinic printouts
  • the school’s registration or health form, if it has one
  • your child’s Emirates ID or passport

What if my child has missed some doses?

A delayed vaccine is not a wasted vaccine. In almost all cases, you do not need to start the whole course again. Your pediatrician can pick the schedule up from where it stopped and space the remaining doses safely.

What you should not do is leave a gap unaddressed. The longer your child is behind, the longer they go without full protection. If your child has missed one or more doses, whether by a week or by a year, bring the card to the clinic and we will build a clear written catch-up plan, aiming for full protection with the fewest injections needed. Our guide to catch-up vaccinations explains how this works.

We moved to Dubai. Do vaccines from my home country count?

Almost always, yes. Vaccines given abroad almost always count. The challenge is usually matching: different countries use different brand names, schedules and languages on the record.

Bring every vaccination document you have, with dates and product names. We map your child’s history onto the UAE schedule, identify which doses already meet local requirements and flag anything still needed for school. If a dose from overseas has no clear documentation, your pediatrician will advise the safest approach, which is sometimes to repeat a dose rather than leave a child unprotected.

What if I have lost the vaccination card?

Contact the clinic or hospital where the vaccines were given. Vaccination records in the UAE are also stored electronically through the health system, which is NABIDH in Dubai and Malaffi in Abu Dhabi, so a record can often be retrieved. Ask your pediatrician to help you find it.

What about the flu vaccine?

The seasonal flu vaccine is not always a strict condition for school entry, but it is worth discussing for school-age children, who catch and spread flu easily in the classroom. Our guide to the children’s flu vaccine in Dubai explains when and why.

Are more vaccines due later in school?

Yes. Boosters continue through childhood. Additional vaccines are recommended for adolescents, including the HPV vaccine and a Tdap booster. Your pediatrician will tell you when they fall due and which are right for your child.

How can I prepare my child for injections?

Children often worry about needles. These steps help:

  • Be honest and simple. Say that it will sting for a moment and then it is over. Avoid saying it will not hurt.
  • Explain what will happen, a day or so before, not weeks ahead.
  • Give your child a job, such as choosing a toy to hold, or taking deep breaths.
  • Stay calm. Children notice your mood.
  • Plan something small afterwards, such as a walk or a favourite activity, not a bribe.
  • Ask about distraction. We offer virtual reality headsets to help children stay calm during vaccines. Read more in our guide to vaccination with virtual reality.

Tell us if your child is very anxious about needles before the visit, so we can plan.

When to book a vaccine review

Book a review if:

  • your child will start nursery or school in the next few months
  • you are not sure which vaccines your child has had
  • your child has missed a dose, or a vaccine visit was delayed by illness or travel
  • you moved to the UAE and your child’s vaccinations began in another country
  • you have lost the vaccination card
  • the school has asked for a vaccination form or record

If your child is unwell with a high fever, a rash or difficulty breathing, do not wait for a review: go to the nearest emergency department or call 998.

How we can help at myPediaclinic

Dr. Tala Belbeissi and Dr. Medhat Abu-Shaaban, our consultant pediatricians, review your child’s full record, explain which doses are due and give vaccines through our vaccination and blood tests service. We map overseas records to the UAE schedule and can build a written catch-up plan. Dr. Tala Belbeissi trained in the US and Dubai. Dr. Medhat Abu-Shaaban is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Both consult in English and Arabic at our clinic in Dubai Healthcare City.

We bill fifteen insurers directly for pediatric care and check your cover before the visit. See our guide to direct billing for children’s care for what to expect.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child start school without all their vaccines?

It depends on the school and the child’s situation, so ask the school directly. In general, an incomplete record can delay enrolment. If your child is behind, the quickest solution is a review and a written catch-up plan.

Does my child need blood tests for school?

Some schools or forms may ask for specific tests or health checks. Ask your school what it requires. A pediatric check-up can cover the health form, and our doctors can arrange any blood test that is requested.

Is it safe to give several vaccines at one visit?

Yes. The schedule is designed so that vaccines can be given together, and combination vaccines reduce the number of injections. Your pediatrician will explain what your child is due and how many injections that means.

Can my child have vaccines when they have a mild cold?

Usually yes. A mild cold or low-grade temperature does not normally mean a vaccine has to be postponed. If your child has a more serious illness, your pediatrician will advise whether to wait.

My child had a bad reaction to an earlier vaccine. What now?

Tell your pediatrician before the next dose. They will review what happened, decide whether to continue and advise how to do it safely. See our guide to fever after baby vaccines for common reactions and when to call.

To book, message us on WhatsApp at 052 218 1662 or call reception on 04 430 5926.