Medical doctors within the UAE are urging dad and mom to make sure their youngsters are absolutely vaccinated earlier than summer time journey, warning that this era brings elevated publicity to infectious illnesses and travel-related well being issues.
Medics are reiterating {that a} well-timed vaccination schedule is essential to a secure and wholesome journey for kids and their households.
Notably, personal faculties within the UAE will resume courses on August 25, 2025, following a two-month summer time break.
Dr Pankaj Nandlal Tardeja, HOD and Specialist, Normal Paediatrics at NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain, mentioned, “As summer time holidays method, many households are planning worldwide journeys. However earlier than reserving flights, dad and mom should guarantee their youngsters’s vaccinations are updated. Vaccines play a important function in defending youngsters from travel-related sicknesses, a few of which is probably not frequent within the UAE however are prevalent in different nations.”
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He added that early planning is essential, particularly for households who’re conscious of their journey plans months upfront.
“For fogeys who’re conscious of journey plans a number of months upfront, it’s a good suggestion to schedule a session with a paediatrician at the very least six to 9 months earlier than departure. This may be certain that all really helpful vaccinations and booster photographs are accomplished on time. We’re reminding residents to make sure that their youngsters’s immunisation schedule is updated in preparation for summer time journey,” he mentioned.
Vaccinate properly upfront
Vaccinating youngsters properly upfront permits time for the vaccines to supply the required safety earlier than they’re uncovered to probably high-risk environments.
Dr Vishrut Singh, Specialist Paediatrics at Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai (AJMC), mentioned, “This enables adequate time for vaccines to take impact and for any essential follow-up appointments. Some vaccines require a number of doses or would possibly must be ordered upfront, so early planning is essential.”
Medical doctors have additionally famous an increase in travel-related sicknesses amongst unvaccinated youngsters, together with severe circumstances of measles and influenza.
“Measles and influenza have significantly seen an increase in recent times. Between Could 2024 and April 2025, Europe reported 22,481 measles circumstances, practically half in youngsters underneath 5, largely unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
“World Well being Organisation (WHO) information highlighted that 35 million youngsters globally lacked full measles immunization in 2023, resulting in widespread outbreaks. Within the Center East and North Africa, 4.3 million youngsters missed a single dose of MMR between 2019–2021 — rising regional dangers,” added Singh.
Preventive care
Dr Mamata Bothra, Specialist Pediatrics and Neonatologist at Worldwide Trendy Hospital, Dubai, bolstered the significance of preventive care.
“It’s vital to finish vaccinations earlier than touring to guard your well being and the well being of others. They’re additionally efficient in stopping the unfold of illnesses to different travellers and again dwelling upon your return.”
She pressured that routine immunisation shouldn’t be missed within the rush of journey preparation. This contains boosters corresponding to DPT, polio, MMR, chickenpox, and meningococcal vaccines.
Some nations may additionally require proof of particular vaccinations for entry, corresponding to yellow fever for elements of Africa and South America.
She added, “Kids travelling for schooling to different nations are advisable to take meningococcal vaccine doses. I like to recommend taking Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations additionally earlier than journey to forestall from these illnesses.
“Vaccinations cut back your threat of contracting probably severe sicknesses whereas touring. It’s advisable to plan forward and talk about along with your physician and guarantee they’re administered in time. Some vaccines require a number of doses or a selected timeframe earlier than journey for optimum safety and efficacy.”
Nandini Sircar
Nandini Sircar has a penchant for schooling, area, and ladies’s narratives. She views the world thro…Learn Extra
