New data from Justlife, a UAE-based home healthcare provider, shows that families across the Emirates are booking flu vaccinations earlier than ever this year. According to the company, bookings in September alone surpassed the entire total recorded in September last year, while bookings for the October-to-December period were about 2.7 times higher than the same months in 2024. The data also indicates that nearly half of all annual flu vaccinations in the UAE are typically completed by the end of October, with that figure rising to roughly 90 per cent by the end of December, underscoring a clear shift toward early vaccination ahead of peak flu season. Dr Jenna Burton, Medical Director at Justlife, said flu is often mistaken for a common cold, but it can strike suddenly with severe exhaustion, body aches, chills, fever and a persistent cough. She said that distinction is one reason doctors are increasingly urging residents not to delay their shots. Dr Bassem Shamseddine, a specialist paediatrician at Mubadala Health Dubai, said October is an ideal time to get vaccinated in the UAE, ideally before influenza begins circulating widely in the community. Dr Mamata Bothra, a specialist paediatrician at International Modern Hospital Dubai, advised families to get vaccinated while the official campaign, which runs from September through March, is still under way. The rise in early bookings coincides with the start of the cooler season and the return of schools and social activities to full swing, both of which doctors say increase the risk of the virus spreading quickly in enclosed spaces. UAE health experts expect the trend toward earlier vaccination to continue in coming flu seasons as awareness grows among residents.