Dubai: More than 800,000 students across the UAE are expected to receive vaccines starting November as part of the National Vaccination Campaign Against Measles, launched by the Ministry of Health.

Schools across the UAE have already issued circulars to parents regarding the vaccines and have received consent letters from them.

The vaccine is compulsory for all students aged one to 18 except for those who have documented medical contraindications.

At the Dubai British Foundation School in Dubai, school nurse Rachel Jex said one third of the parents at her school have consented to the vaccine.

“The ministry has recommended that this vaccine is compulsory for everyone regardless of your previous vaccination. The Dubai Health Authority and World Health Organisation tell us that even if you have had all of your scheduled vaccinations it is still a good thing to booster that immunity.”

Jex explained that though everyone is encouraged to take this vaccine, according to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) patient Bill of Rights, article 15 states that you have the right to refuse treatment.

“The form supplied by the DHA allows you to agree to take the vaccine or disagree. If you disagree you must state why and attach a copy of the vaccination record,” she said.

To ensure that the vaccination process is smooth, Jex said the DHA has a team of professionals, the Schools and Educational Institutions Health Unit (SEIHU) who will be responsible for the campaign’s implementation in private schools.

Jex also said in schools that have a Vaccine Qualified Clinic, the health team (the nurses and doctors) will give the vaccinations. In schools that are not vaccines-qualified or have only one nurse the SEIHU will send a team to vaccinate.

Ashok Kumar, CEO of Indian High School, said DHA stated the campaign is compulsory to protect the community against measles and to eliminate the disease from the UAE.

To ensure that the vaccination process is smooth, he said, “The Indian High School will conduct the campaign per grade and time slots will be provided to different grades and sections.”

Indian mother of two Bhavna Awasthi said she opted to not give her two children aged eight and 10 the vaccines because they have already taken the vaccines.

“Why put something in their body if they don’t need it? My children have already taken their main vaccine and the boosters so I declined the vaccine and gave the necessary documents to prove that they have already taken these,”

Awasthi, however, believed that the ministry’s effort is fantastic for those who have not take the vaccines yet.

Mai Al Khatib, a mother of three, on the other hand, opted to give her children the vaccines.

“ I think it’s a good move to keep our children safe,” she said.