Dubai caps flu jab price at Dh100 for private health facilities

Dubai - The maximum price of Dh100 included all other procedures relating to the service.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) on Tuesday capped the price of the seasonal flu vaccine at Dh100.

With hospitals and clinics across the country experiencing an ‘unprecedented’ demand for the seasonal influenza vaccine, especially in the wake of Covid-19, price of the flu jabs at private clinics and hospitals varied from Dh40 to Dh120.

On Tuesday, the DHA issued a circular that stated due to the “exceptional situation of Covid-19” that requires taking all necessary steps to prevent the spread of the disease (including taking the flu jab), the authority decided that private hospitals cannot charge patients over Dh100 for the vaccine.

The authority said the maximum price of Dh100 included all other procedures relating to the service. “Refrain from charging any additional service-related fees, (including but not limited to: administrative fees, offering faster service, service delivery on site as workplace or home, etc. ) , especially for patients who visit the health facility directly to take the vaccine with no symptoms or request for any other medical service or further consultation,” the circular stated.

Health authorities across the UAE have launched a number of awareness drives and campaigns to educate people on the importance of getting the seasonal flu vaccine in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Doctors have reiterated that although the flu vaccine does not protect one from Covid-19 infections, it may reduce the severity by boosting general immunity and possibly cross-immunity as they belong to the family of coronaviruses.

saman@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai
• Abu Dhabi