UAE Families Book Flu Vaccines Earlier: What Clinics Should Do Before the Peak

What the new data shows

On 29 October, Khaleej Times published booking data from Justlife, which offers vaccinations at home in the UAE. The figures cover only Justlife's at-home service, not UAE-wide vaccination rates. Still, they show when people book:

• September 2026 at-home flu vaccine bookings were higher than the whole of September 2025.
• October to December 2025 bookings were about 2.7 times those of the same period in 2024.
• By the end of October 2025, almost half of last season's at-home flu vaccinations had already been given.
• By the end of December 2025, nearly nine in 10 had been given.

The article also quotes doctors from Justlife, Mubadala Health Dubai and International Modern Hospital Dubai. Dr Bassem Shamseddine of Mubadala Health Dubai said October is a good time to vaccinate, ideally before flu circulates widely, and that protection takes about two weeks to develop.

The official campaign this season

The Ministry of Health and Prevention launched its awareness campaign on influenza and seasonal respiratory diseases for 2026-2027 in mid-September. WAM reported it runs until March 2027. According to Gulf News, the priority groups are:

• Pregnant women
• Children aged six months and above
• School students (new this season)
• Older people
• People with chronic illnesses
• Healthcare workers
• Travellers performing Hajj and Umrah during Ramadan (new this season)

The vaccine is open to anyone aged six months and above. Gulf News lists the partners as Emirates Health Services, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Health, Department of Health Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre and Sharjah Health Authority.

Why this matters for clinics

If Justlife's pattern holds across the market, most flu vaccine decisions in a season are made before the end of the year. A clinic that starts promoting flu shots once waiting rooms fill with flu cases is advertising to people who have already been vaccinated somewhere else.

Flu vaccines also bring families. One parent books for the children, then for themselves, then for a grandparent in a priority group. Children aged six months to eight years having the vaccine for the first time may need two doses at least four weeks apart, per the doctors quoted by Khaleej Times. That is a second visit you can plan for.

What to do this week

1. Put flu vaccines on your website as a real page. State who it is for, the vaccine types you stock, whether you vaccinate children, price or insurance cover, and how to book. A generic "vaccinations" page converts worse than a specific one.
2. Run a dedicated Google Ads campaign now. Keep flu searches in their own campaign with their own budget so they are not starved by other services. Use location targeting around each branch, and add call and booking options. Our guide to getting vaccination patients with Google Ads in Dubai covers the setup.
3. Write ads for the priority groups. Parents of school children, pregnant patients, older adults and Umrah travellers search differently. Speak to each with factual copy: what you offer, availability, and how to book. Avoid claims your regulator would not accept.
4. Update your Google Business Profile. Add flu vaccination as a service and post availability so it shows in Maps searches.
5. Plan the second dose. For first-time child patients who need two doses, book the second appointment before the family leaves.
6. Front-load the budget. Weight spend toward October to December, then review in January against bookings, not clicks.

Home healthcare providers have an edge here: Justlife's data is all at-home bookings. If you offer home visits, say so in the ad. See our home healthcare Google Ads service.

Our take

Seasonal services reward the clinic that is visible first. The data in this story comes from one provider, so treat the exact numbers with care, but the direction is clear and matches the official advice to vaccinate early. If your flu vaccine campaign is not live yet, today is a good day to start. Access One runs Google Ads for clinics across the UAE. See how we work with clinics or start here.

Frequently asked questions

When does the UAE flu vaccination campaign run this season?

MOHAP's awareness campaign on influenza and seasonal respiratory diseases for 2026-2027 started in mid-September 2026 and runs until 31 March 2027.

Who are the priority groups for the flu vaccine in the UAE?

Pregnant women, children aged six months and above, school students, older people, people with chronic illnesses, healthcare workers, and Hajj and Umrah travellers during Ramadan. Anyone aged six months and above can be vaccinated.

Are people booking flu vaccines earlier this year?

Justlife's at-home data, reported by Khaleej Times on 29 October 2026, shows September 2026 bookings already passed the total for September 2025. The figures cover only that provider's service.

When should a clinic start advertising flu vaccines?

Before the season peaks. In Justlife's data almost half of last season's at-home flu vaccinations were given by the end of October and nearly nine in 10 by the end of December, so October to December is when most demand appears.

How long does the flu vaccine take to work?

Doctors quoted by Khaleej Times and MOHAP officials said the body needs about two weeks after vaccination to build protection.

Sources

• Khaleej Times: UAE families start booking flu vaccines ahead of season, data shows (29 October 2026)
• Gulf News: UAE Ministry adds school students and Umrah, Hajj travellers to high-risk groups requiring flu vaccination (September 2026)
• Emirates 24|7 (WAM): Ministry of Health and Prevention launches awareness campaign on influenza, seasonal respiratory diseases (15 September 2026)

Published 30 Oct 2026 · Access One