Fine if new child vaccination plan ignored

Private healthcare centres in Dubai, who don’t follow the new immunization policy of Dubai Health Authority (DHA), will face stiff penalties and barred from providing such services if they repeat the violation, a senior Dubai Health Authority (DHA) official told Emirates 24/7.

“Health care centres will have to follow the new policy and requirements. Those who fail to comply with the policy will be subjected to fines as per DHA regulations. Ultimately, these healthcare centres will not be allowed to provide immunization services if they repeat the violation,” said Dr Ali Al Marzooqi, Director of Public Health and Safety, DHA.

Asked if there were talks with the health insurers to provide any cover for immunization at private hospitals, Al Marzooqi said that health insurance companies have different health insurance packages and some of these packages do cover immunization services.

“It depends on which package the person is enrolled in. This system is implemented worldwide and it gives the person the freedom to choose the insurance package and how much he/she is willing to pay for his/her health insurance.”

He emphasised all vaccines covered with the national immunization programme are provided for free in government clinics.

Under DHA's new policy, private clinics will be licensed as vaccine qualified clinics (VQCs) and their functions will be monitored by the DHA Health Regulation. Thus by implementing the VQCs system, parents will be sure that their children will receive potent and safe vaccines."

A study by the authority has found that 28 per cent of the clinics were not following the national immunization schedule. Eighty three per cent demonstrated high quality immunization registry system; 41 per cent have no reminder system and 48 per cent of the clinics lacked a system to trace defaulters.

The study revealed that 64 per cent of private healthcare facilities were not reporting adverse events. On the other hand, periodic reporting to the concerned authorities (Ministry of Health and DHA) was found to be inadequate in 48 per cent of the private facilities. 

DHA vaccines schedule

At birth: BCG, Hepatitis B

Two months: Hexavalent vaccine (DTaP, Hib, Hepatitis B, IPV), Pneumococcol

Four months: Pentavalent vaccine (DPT, Hib, Hepatitis B), OPV, Pneumococcol

Six months: Pentavalent vaccine (DPT, Hib, Hepatitis B), OPV, Pneumococcol

12 months: MMR, Chicken Pox

18 months: Tetravalent (DTaP, Hib), OPV, Pneumococcol

Five to six years: DPT, OPV, MMR, Chicken Pox

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