As respiratory viruses rise in the UAE, experts recommend seasonal flu vaccination to protect individuals, families, and the wider community.
Every year, as temperatures cool and schools reopen, respiratory viruses begin to circulate more actively across the UAE, creating a predictable but preventable seasonal challenge.
We have been witnessing a marked increase in respiratory illnesses, driven in part by the UAE’s climate and lifestyle. Extended periods indoors in air-conditioned offices, schools, and malls, coupled with crowded public transport and shared spaces, create ideal conditions for viral transmission. While these infections are often casually referred to as the “flu,” some are far more serious than the common cold. Influenza is one such viral infection, capable of causing high fever, body aches, fatigue, and, in some cases, severe complications such as pneumonia, particularly among vulnerable populations, including older adults, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic medical conditions. The seasonal flu vaccine is specifically formulated to prevent influenza.
From my experience as a Family Medicine specialist, annual influenza vaccination is an effective preventive measure. Vaccinated individuals and families experience fewer severe infections, resulting in reduced school absenteeism among children, faster recovery in adults, and lower household transmission. Vaccination also limits viral spread in the community and protects high-risk populations from serious complications.
Awareness of influenza and the flu vaccine has grown noticeably in recent years. More patients now ask about vaccination during routine check-ups or proactively request it before flu season. This trend likely reflects the rising incidence of influenza in the UAE, with recent outbreaks being more widespread and severe than in the past. It is encouraging to see communities taking preventive health seriously.
It is a common misconception that influenza vaccination is only necessary for children or the elderly. Influenza can affect all age groups and spread rapidly within households, workplaces, and communities. Adults with high occupational exposure, frequent travel, or underlying chronic conditions are particularly at risk of severe illness. Vaccination reduces absenteeism and the potential for onward transmission to family members and colleagues. For parents, it protects children and minimizes school absences. For healthcare professionals and educators, immunization serves both as personal protection and a public health responsibility.
Because influenza viruses undergo frequent antigenic changes, annual vaccination is essential. Each year, the vaccine is updated to target the strains expected to circulate most widely, ensuring that the immune system remains primed against current variants and lowering the risk of severe illness.
The optimal time to receive the flu shot in the UAE is October to November, before the seasonal peak, although vaccination remains beneficial even later.
Vaccination is not merely an individual choice; rather a step towards protecting people around us, families and the broader community.
This article is contributed by Dr Shahzad Moorkkan Ubaidulla, Specialist Family Medicine, Aster Clinic, Al Nahda (Sharjah)
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