Overview
- The Ministry of Health and Prevention launched the 2026–27 National Seasonal Influenza Awareness Campaign on Tuesday, extending it beyond influenza to highlight respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumonia and urging protection for high‑risk groups.
- Vaccinations are now available across the UAE for people aged six months and older, and officials say current respiratory activity in the country remains similar to recent seasons rather than rising.
- Public‑health advisers recommend getting seasonal shots in the fall so immunity lasts through the winter peak, with many experts and guidance pointing to September through October as the optimal window.
- The U.S. FDA this year approved Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine, mFLUSIVA, for adults 50 and older and reports its side effects are similar to existing flu shots, offering an additional option for higher‑risk adults.
- Officials point to last season’s severe H3N2 surge in the United States and a milder Southern Hemisphere winter as context for planning, and they stress layered measures such as maternal RSV vaccination, monoclonal antibodies for infants, hand hygiene and staying home when sick to limit severe illness.