UAE flu vaccine now necessary for school students and some travellers

Dubai: Health authorities in the UAE have widened the list of groups who need this year's flu shot, adding school students and pilgrims travelling for Hajj and Umrah to the priority list for the first time.

The update was announced at the launch of the country's annual awareness campaign on Tuesday, titled the Awareness Campaign on Influenza and Seasonal Respiratory Diseases for the 2026–2027 season

Who needs it

Officials said vaccination is especially necessary for groups at risk of severe influenza complications, as well as for people who live with or care for someone who falls into a risk category.

The full list of target groups for seasonal influenza vaccination this year is:

1. Pregnant women

2. Children aged six months and above

3. School students

4. Elderly people

5. Those with chronic illnesses

6. Healthcare workers

7. Travellers performing Hajj and Umrah during Ramadan

What has changed

Previously, the ministry's guidance centred on a narrower set of groups. The vaccine was recommended for everyone aged six months and older, but was flagged as especially important for healthcare workers, pregnant women, children under the age of five, elderly individuals and people with chronic medical conditions.

This year, that list has grown. School students and those heading to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah have now been added, reflecting the added exposure these groups face while travelling in large crowds or spending long hours in shared indoor spaces such as classrooms.

Why it matters

Widening the net to include students is attributed to how quickly seasonal flu spreads in schools, while pilgrims travelling amid the dense crowds of Hajj and Umrah face similar risk of exposure to respiratory illnesses from people arriving from across the world.

By flagging these groups specifically, health authorities hope to reduce transmission not just among vaccinated individuals, but also among the people they live with, teach, or travel alongside.

The seasonal flu vaccine remains open to anyone aged six months and above who wants protection, even if they don't fall into one of the seven listed groups.

Saudi health authorities mandate that pilgrims get the seasonal flu vaccine before travelling.

Vaccinating school students against influenza still remains a recommendation.

However, officials are clearly hoping the expanded list will nudge more people, particularly parents of school-going children and pilgrims, to get vaccinated ahead of the 2026–2027 season.