Advanced Hexavalent Vaccine in Dubai

The hexavalent vaccine is a 6-in-1 combination vaccine that protects against six diseases in a single injection: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and hepatitis B. The brand used at DCDC is INFANRIX HEXA, manufactured by GSK. By combining six antigens into one shot, the hexavalent vaccine significantly reduces the total number of injections your baby needs during the first two years of life while providing comprehensive protection against these serious illnesses.

INFANRIX HEXA has been extensively studied in clinical trials involving over 40,000 infants and has been administered to hundreds of millions of children worldwide since its approval. Common side effects include mild redness or swelling at the injection site, low-grade fever, and temporary fussiness, which typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours. Serious adverse reactions are extremely rare. The vaccine is approved by the UAE MOHAP, the European Medicines Agency, and the World Health Organization, and is recommended by the DHA as part of the mandatory UAE childhood immunization schedule.

The UAE immunization schedule specifies INFANRIX HEXA at four time points: the first dose at 2 months of age, the second dose at 4 months, the third dose at 6 months, and a booster dose at 18 months. These intervals are designed to build and reinforce immunity when infants are most vulnerable. For baby vaccination Dubai parents should know that ROTARIX (rotavirus) is given alongside the hexavalent vaccine at 2 and 4 months, PRIORIX (MMR) and VARILRIX (chickenpox) at 12 to 15 months, and BOOSTRIX (DTaP booster) at 4 to 6 years.

A pentavalent vaccine protects against five diseases (typically diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and Hib), while the hexavalent vaccine adds hepatitis B as a sixth component. INFANRIX HEXA is a hexavalent vaccine that combines all six antigens into one injection, eliminating the need for a separate hepatitis B shot. The UAE and most developed countries now use the hexavalent formulation because it provides broader protection with fewer injections, improving convenience and compliance with the immunization schedule.

ROTARIX is an oral vaccine (given by mouth, not injection) that protects against rotavirus, the leading cause of severe diarrhea and vomiting in infants and young children worldwide. In the UAE schedule, ROTARIX is administered in two doses: the first at 2 months and the second at 4 months of age. The rotavirus vaccine must be started before 15 weeks and completed before 24 weeks of age. According to the WHO, rotavirus vaccines prevent approximately 40 percent of rotavirus-related hospitalizations globally.

The PRIORIX vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, is given in two doses in the UAE schedule. The first dose is administered at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 to 6 years. Both doses are required for school entry in Dubai. The MMR vaccine provides lifelong protection when both doses are completed. PRIORIX is one of the most extensively studied vaccines in history, and decades of research confirm its safety and effectiveness in preventing these three potentially serious childhood diseases.

Dubai schools regulated by KHDA, GEMS, and Taaleem require children to have completed all age-appropriate doses of the UAE immunization schedule before enrollment. For child vaccination Dubai schools mandate all four doses of INFANRIX HEXA, both doses of ROTARIX, both doses of PRIORIX (MMR), both doses of VARILRIX (chickenpox), and the BOOSTRIX (DTaP) booster at 4 to 6 years. Children must present an official UAE vaccination card with complete records. Our clinic provides properly documented vaccination cards that are accepted by all Dubai schools.

Yes, catch-up vaccination is available for children who have missed one or more doses of the hexavalent vaccine or any other vaccine on the UAE schedule. Our pediatricians assess your child's vaccination history, determine which doses are outstanding, and create a structured catch-up schedule that follows DHA guidelines for minimum intervals between doses. For families relocating to Dubai from countries with different vaccination programs, we review international records and map them to the UAE schedule, administering only the doses that are genuinely needed.