Child Vaccination in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is child vaccination?
Child vaccination is the planned series of vaccines a child receives from birth into the teenage years. Each vaccine teaches the immune system to recognise a specific germ, so that if your child meets it later, the body is ready to fight it off before serious illness develops.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, vaccinations are given by the pediatric team, who follow the current UAE national immunisation schedule. The schedule is set nationally and updated from time to time, so your pediatrician gives you the dates for your child's next vaccines at each visit rather than relying on an older printed list.
The vaccines protect against infections that once filled children's wards, including:
- Measles, mumps and rubella
- Whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria and tetanus
- Polio
- Hepatitis B
- Pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae type b infections, which can cause meningitis and pneumonia
- Rotavirus, a common cause of severe diarrhoea in babies
- Chickenpox
Many of these are given as combination vaccines, which protect against several diseases in one injection and mean fewer needles for your child.
Who needs it
Every child benefits from vaccination, starting in the first days of life. Your child also needs a vaccination review in these situations:
- You have moved to the UAE from another country. Schedules differ between countries, and many families here arrive with a child who is partly vaccinated. Your pediatrician compares your child's record with the UAE schedule and builds a catch-up plan.
- A dose was missed or delayed, for example because of illness or travel. Vaccination simply resumes; the course rarely needs restarting.
- Your child has asthma, heart disease, diabetes or another long-term condition. A seasonal influenza vaccine may be recommended each year.
- Nursery or school registration is coming up. Schools and nurseries in the UAE typically ask for a vaccination record at registration.
What happens
Each vaccination visit at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah starts with a short check. The pediatrician asks how your child has been, reviews the vaccination record and any reactions to earlier doses, and examines your child if needed. A minor illness such as a runny nose or mild cold is usually fine for vaccination to go ahead.
Most vaccines are given as an injection into the thigh in babies and the upper arm in older children. Rotavirus vaccine is given as drops by mouth. Several vaccines can safely be given at the same visit, in different sites, and this keeps your child protected on time with fewer trips.
You can help your child through the moment:
- Hold your baby close, skin to skin if you like
- Breastfeed or offer a bottle during or straight after the injection, which calms many babies
- For toddlers and older children, bring a favourite toy, a song or a video to distract them
- Tell older children the truth in simple words: it will feel like a quick pinch
Your child stays in the waiting area for a short time afterwards, so the team can make sure all is well before you leave.
Preparing for it
Bring your child's vaccination record to every visit, whether it is a UAE card, a booklet from another country or a photo of the pages. Records in any language are useful, and the team works through them with you. If your child has had a reaction to a vaccine before, write down what happened and when.
Dress your child in clothes that make the thigh or upper arm easy to reach. Make sure your child has eaten and had something to drink. Let the pediatrician know if your child has a fever on the day, has a weakened immune system, is taking steroid medicine, or has had a blood product recently, since some vaccines are timed around these.
Keep the updated record somewhere safe after each visit. You will need it for nursery, school and travel.
Afterwards
Mild reactions are common and show that the immune system is responding. Your child may have a sore, red or slightly swollen spot where the injection went in, be fussier or sleepier than usual, or have a mild fever for a day or two. Some vaccines, such as measles, mumps and rubella, can cause a mild fever or rash a week or more later, which settles on its own.
Offer extra feeds or drinks, dress your child lightly, and cuddle them. Your pediatrician advises whether a fever-reducing medicine is suitable for your child's age and weight.
Contact the hospital if a fever lasts more than two days or is very high, if your child cries inconsolably for hours, or if swelling at the injection site keeps spreading.
Call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department straight away if your child has swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty breathing, widespread hives, or becomes floppy or pale, especially within minutes to hours of a vaccine. These are signs of a severe allergic reaction, described on the severe allergic reaction care page.
Cost and insurance
Cover for childhood vaccines in the UAE varies. Some national-schedule vaccines may be provided through government programmes, while private insurance plans differ in which vaccines they include, and some exclude optional vaccines. Check your plan before the visit. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
Parents can review their own protection too, through adult vaccination. Vaccination visits often sit alongside regular growth and development checks on the Pediatrics and Neonatology page.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What are the risks of child vaccination?
The risks of child vaccination are mostly mild and short-lived: a sore arm or leg, fussiness and a low fever for a day or two. Serious allergic reactions are rare, which is why children wait for a short time after vaccination with staff nearby. A few conditions, such as a weakened immune system, mean a vaccine is postponed or changed, and your pediatrician discusses this with you.
Can my child be vaccinated with a cold?
A child with a mild cold, runny nose or slight cough can usually be vaccinated as planned. Vaccination is usually postponed if your child has a high fever or is clearly unwell, and the pediatrician checks your child on the day before any vaccine is given.
Is it safe to give several vaccines at the same visit?
Giving several vaccines at the same visit is safe and is how national schedules are designed. A child's immune system responds to many germs every day, and combining vaccines keeps your child protected on time with fewer appointments.
My child was vaccinated abroad. What happens now?
A child vaccinated in another country can continue vaccination in the UAE with a catch-up plan. The pediatrician compares your child's record with the UAE national schedule, counts the doses already given, and adds only what is missing. Bring the record in any language.
Does my child need a fever medicine before the vaccine?
A fever-reducing medicine is usually not needed before vaccination. If your child develops a fever or discomfort afterwards, your pediatrician advises whether a fever-reducing medicine suits your child's age and weight, and how to give it.
Can vaccines cause autism?
Vaccines do not cause autism. Large studies involving millions of children in many countries have found no link between vaccines, including the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and autism. Signs of autism often become noticeable at around the age when several vaccines are given, which is why the two were once wrongly connected.
Are child vaccinations covered by insurance in the UAE?
Cover for child vaccinations in the UAE varies by plan. Some national-schedule vaccines may be available through government programmes, and private plans differ in which vaccines they include. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
Departments
Book an appointment
Tell us your preferred day and time. Our team calls you back to confirm.