Doctors urge families to get vaccinated for flu

Families across the country are being urged to make sure they receive flu jabs before winter sets in.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said the vaccine would be available until March.

The flu virus thrives in schools and offices and its spread is helped by the prevalence of air conditioning.

Vaccines are free for those considered most at risk, including those who are pregnant, the elderly and those with a history of illness.

But it is not recommended for people with a severe allergy to eggs.

For those not at risk, hospitals charge about Dh250 for the flu jab, although cost varies between hospitals and emirates.

Children as young as six months old are eligible for the vaccine and Dr Nada Al Marzouqi, director of the ministry’s preventive medicine department, said it was important to be vaccinated annually.

“For children under 9 years of age, they need another dose. The interval between the two doses should be four weeks or more,” she said.

Last year, a Dubai school pupil died two days after developing flu-like symptoms.

Alia Niyaz Ali, 17, a Grade 12 pupil at Indian High School, died after complications associated with the virus.

A Rashid Hospital representative said at the time that the teenager’s death was an “isolated incident”.

Dr Yusr Jaafir, a family doctor at Medeor 24x7 International Hospital in Al Ain, said studies showed flu was greatly affected by temperature change.

Air conditioning can contribute to the high number of cold and flu cases in winter.

Doctors caution against moving suddenly from cool environments to the heat outside and vice versa. Regular maintenance of air conditioning units can also help to prevent the spread of the virus.