UAE School Immunisation Requirements: Mandatory Vaccines for KG1 and KG2

When it comes to preparing a checklist for parents who are enrolling their child in KG1 or KG2 this year, uniforms and school bags are not the only things on the list; an appropriate vaccination record is a prerequisite for admission. Once again, parents are being called to verify their children’s immunisation records in advance of the start of nursery or school in the UAE, rather than leaving it to the last minute (Gulf News). 

The Framework Behind It

Currently, childhood immunisation in the UAE is based on one national schedule, which is provided locally in Dubai by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and federally by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). Government vaccinations were free, and private vaccinations followed the same schedule and were mandatory as part of the National Immunisation Program. These are DHA’s Guidelines for Best Practice in Immunisation, Issue 4, which came into effect on 27th January 2026. 

What’s Required by KG1/KG2 Age (4 to 6 Years)

At kindergarten age, children have had all the infant and early childhood vaccines (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, hepatitis B, pneumococcal disease, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox and meningococcal disease). The five-to-six-year visit adds a set of boosters directly assessed by schools as part of this visit: 

• DTaP booster (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
• OPV/IPV booster (polio)
• Two doses of MMR are needed (children who do not have the 2 doses are flagged for assessment)
• Varicella (chickenpox) – excellent doses at this review

Influenza is also recommended for children from 6 months of age, but is not on the list of required vaccinations for school entry. 

Checking and Completing the Record

It is important to remember that the question is not just if a child has been vaccinated, but whether they have received the recommended doses at the right ages and at the correct intervals, Dr Sundus Khuder, consultant paediatrician at RAK hospital, has said. Parents are encouraged to take the child’s vaccination card to a paediatrician, primary health care centre or school health service to check for consistency with the appropriate age-appropriate immunisation schedule.

Dr. Ensiyeh Rahimi, an infectious diseases specialist at Laser Medical Centre, advises records to indicate the names of the vaccines and administration dates clearly for children who have been vaccinated elsewhere than in the UAE. An authorised vaccination centre can develop an age-appropriate catch-up strategy where there is a lack of, or confusion about, records, with doctors stating that there is no need to restart the series if a dose is missed. 

Timeline: When to Start

Dr. Shahid Gauhar, a specialist neonatologist and paediatrician at Prime Hospital advises to make a paediatric consultation 4 to 6 weeks before school opening, and include all vaccination records, including foreign vaccines. The paediatrician checks the dosages noted from the child’s record against the age and records notes about what has been missed out and when they are able to give the child all their doses they issue a new vaccination certificate for submission to school. 

Common Parent Concerns

The top commonly asked questions by parents are about side effects and multiple vaccines administered at one time, according to Dr Siddharth Arora, specialist paediatrician at Medcare Women and Children Hospital. One thing doctors agree on: most reactions are mild and temporary (e.g., soreness at the injection site or low fever), and it’s safe to give several vaccines at the same time. Parents should discuss their concerns directly with their child’s health care provider, not from informal or social media outlets. 

Important Reminder for Parents

Vaccination is a requirement which does not depend on nationality, as all children who reside in the UAE are entitled to vaccines free of charge in the government’s health centres, provided they are part of the national vaccination programme. The vaccination review should be considered as an integral part of a child’s preparation for school, rather than an add-on to the enrolment process, and should begin well before the school opening dates for the five or six booster doses examined during the checkup. 

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