The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has recently updated the National Immunization Program that is in accordance with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and the Global Strategy. According to the program, the Ministry has banned the use of the oral polio vaccine. Instead, a combination vaccine containing inactivated poliovirus should be used to immunize babies aged 4 months. This combination vaccine will not only protect against poliovirus but will also be effective against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and Hemophilus influenzae type (Hib).
In addition, the Ministry has issued two more updates in this National Immunization Program. This includes a reduction in the number of doses of the pneumococcal vaccine from 4 to 3, which should be administered at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. Additionally, the meningitis vaccine is included in the immunization plan…
