Flu vaccine in the UAE: who should think about it

Who should think about it

The DHA guide says the vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older. It strongly encourages these groups, who are at higher risk of catching flu and of having complications:

• Health care providers
• Children aged 6 months to 5 years
• People aged 65 and above
• Women at any stage of pregnancy
• Pilgrims
• People with chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, lung diseases such as asthma, and chronic liver or kidney disease

WHO's list is similar. It also names people with weakened immune systems among those at higher risk of severe illness.

When to have it

DHA says the vaccine is given every year, in September or early winter, before the flu season begins. If you miss that window, it still encourages vaccination later on, because flu may peak in the following months. It takes about two weeks to become effective, so it helps to have it before flu starts to spread.

You need one each year because flu viruses keep changing and the vaccine is updated to match. Protection from earlier vaccines can also fade.

Young children having a flu vaccine for the first time may need more than one dose. Your doctor or nurse can tell you what applies to your child.

Who should wait, and what to expect

The DHA guide lists children younger than 6 months and people with an allergy to the vaccine or its components as groups who should not have it. People with moderate to severe illness, with or without a fever, should postpone it. If you have had a reaction to a vaccine before, or you are not sure, talk to a doctor first.

The usual flu shot contains inactivated virus and is given in the arm, so DHA says it cannot give you flu. Side effects are generally mild and pass within a few days. They can include redness or swelling at the injection site, headache, fever, muscle aches and nausea. An allergic reaction to a component of the vaccine is also listed.

You can still catch flu after vaccination. You may have met the virus before your body had built up protection, or caught a less common variant the vaccine does not cover. DHA says the illness is likely to be milder and shorter if you do get it. WHO notes the vaccine can be less effective in older people, but still makes illness less severe and reduces complications and deaths.

Good habits still help. Wash your hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, stay at home if you feel unwell, and avoid close contact with sick people.

When flu needs medical care

WHO says flu usually starts suddenly, with fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, feeling very unwell, a sore throat and a runny nose. Most people recover within a week, but it can lead to pneumonia and sepsis. People with severe symptoms or other medical conditions should seek care, and so should anyone with mild symptoms that get worse. If you are in a higher-risk group, contact a doctor early, as you may need a different treatment plan.

Call 998 or go to an emergency department for trouble breathing, severe chest pain, fainting, sudden confusion, or a high fever with a headache and stiff neck.

Where to get it

In its 2025 campaign, MOHAP said vaccines were offered at government health centres and were available to all residents aged 6 months and older. Check with your local health authority or clinic for the current season.

You can also book a flu vaccine through medicAI, given by a licensed nurse from a licensed provider. If you are unsure whether it suits you, you can talk to a doctor by video first.