Vaccinations & blood tests
Discuss your child’s vaccination needs or a requested blood test with the pediatric team.
One vaccine has a deadline
Most of the schedule is forgiving. A dose given late still counts, and there is generally no point at which it stops counting. The rotavirus vaccine is the exception. It is given by mouth as a few drops rather than by injection, the first dose belongs in the first couple of months of life, and the course has to be finished by around six to eight months depending on the brand. After that it is not given, and there is no catching up on it later.
Not sure where your child’s record stands? Bring what you have and we will read it.
Vaccinations here follow the UAE childhood schedule, from the first doses given in the maternity unit through to the pre-school boosters. Where a child has moved to Dubai part-way through another country’s programme, or has missed a dose, the record is read and a catch-up plan is built from it. Blood tests are arranged in the same visit where one is needed.
What brings parents in
Most vaccination appointments are one of these:
- The routine doses, timed alongside your child’s check-ups
- You have just moved to Dubai and the record is in another country’s format
- School or nursery registration needs an up-to-date immunisation record
- A dose was missed, and you are not sure whether the series has to start again
- Your child is frightened of needles, and the last time did not go well
- A blood test has been requested, or you would like iron or vitamin D checked
What happens at the visit
- 01The record is readEvery document you have, in any language and any format, including photographs on your phone. Brand names differ by country, so each entry is matched to what it actually protects against, with the date and your child’s age at the time.
- 02The plan is explained before anything happensA dose given abroad almost always counts, so what is left is the doses genuinely still needed rather than a fresh start. You are told which are due today and why. Several can usually be given at one visit at different sites, which means fewer trips than parents expect.
- 03The injectionsQuick. A virtual reality headset is available for children who want one, with the content chosen before the appointment starts, and the injection timed for the point they are most absorbed in it.
- 04You leave with the record updatedIn writing, with the dates for the next doses, and what is normal in the days that follow.
The day or two afterwards
Most children have a slightly grumpy evening and nothing else.
- A sore, red or slightly swollen injection site is very common. A cool compress helps more than keeping the limb still.
- Mild fever, fussiness and extra sleep are common, and are the immune system responding as it should
- A small painless lump at the site is harmless and can take a few weeks to fade
- Offer extra fluids and feeds, keep the day quiet, and dress your child lightly rather than bundling them up
- Ask us about the right fever relief and the right dose for your child’s age rather than guessing
- A high persistent fever, or unusual lethargy, is uncommon and is worth a call
Who you would see
Dr. Medhat Abu-ShaabanConsultant Pediatrician, Allergy Specialist & Medical Director
Dr. Tala BelbeissiConsultant Pediatrician
Every doctor consults in English and Arabic.
We missed a dose — does the series start again?
Almost never. Doses already given still count, and there is generally no maximum interval after which one stops counting. If the series is three doses and your child has had two, they need one more, not three, however long the gap has been. There are minimum intervals between doses, so the plan may space the remaining ones out.
We have moved here — do vaccines given abroad count?
In almost all cases, yes. Bring every document you have. A clearly documented dose counts. Where one cannot be verified, the options are discussed with you, and are usually either a repeat dose — extra doses of most childhood vaccines are not harmful — or a blood test to check existing immunity.
Do schools ask for this?
Yes. Nurseries and schools across the UAE ask for an up-to-date immunisation record at registration, and gaps can hold up enrolment. The pre-school window is when most gaps are found, so a review a couple of months before the deadline leaves time to give any catch-up doses comfortably rather than in a rush.
Is it safe to give several vaccines at once?
Yes, and it is standard practice. A child meets an enormous number of new antigens every ordinary day, and the few in a set of vaccines are a small addition to that. Spacing them further apart than recommended does not make them safer; it lengthens the time your child is unprotected.
My child is frightened of needles.
Tell us when you book. A virtual reality headset is available, and children choose what they want to watch beforehand, so the injection happens while their attention is elsewhere. Needle fear that goes unaddressed in childhood tends to follow people into adulthood and into avoiding care, which is why it is worth taking seriously rather than rushing past.
Which blood tests do children usually need?
Iron and vitamin D are the two screened most often. Iron is generally checked around twelve months and again during adolescence, the two ages where the risk is highest, and sooner where there are symptoms or risk factors. Where a deficiency is treated, a repeat test after two to three months confirms the treatment is working.
My child has a cold — should we postpone?
A mild cough or runny nose is usually not a reason to delay. A child who is significantly unwell on the day is assessed first. Tell us either way when you arrive, and we will advise.
Your next step
Start with a conversation.
Tell us what is on your mind and reception will confirm the right specialist and a time.
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- Sat-Fri: 9AM - 6PM
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- Direct billing with 15 insurers. Check yours
- Find us
- Al Razi Building 64, Block B
Dubai Healthcare City