UMMC extends free anaemia screening and optional dengue jabs for children into November

1 November 2026 · News · Pregnancy, birth & baby

Universiti Malaya Medical Centre is running more free weekend sessions in November that screen children aged 7 to under 12 for anaemia and offer optional dengue vaccination. Parents in the Klang Valley can register or walk in on the day; the sessions are free, so it is worth comparing before paying for the same checks privately.

What is on offer

UMMC, the teaching hospital of Universiti Malaya, runs a community programme that combines anaemia screening with dengue prevention for primary-school-age children. According to CodeBlue and The Star, more than 3,600 children took part between May and October 2026 in sessions held in Petaling Jaya, Ampang, Kepong, Subang and Shah Alam, and between 60 and 70 per cent of them chose to receive the dengue vaccine.

The programme is for children aged 7 to under 12. Vaccination is optional; screening is offered whether or not a family chooses the jab. Weekday walk-ins at the hospital ran until 30 October.

Upcoming sessions

CodeBlue lists four weekend community sessions in November 2026, each from 9am to 3pm. Families can register an eligible child in advance through the organisers' link or walk in on the day.

Why it matters now

Dengue remains high this year. CodeBlue reported more than 76,000 cases nationwide by 14 October 2026, and 62 deaths by early September, compared with 32 in the same period of 2025. UMMC's public health team says anaemia can go unnoticed in children, and the programme pairs the two because children with anaemia may be more vulnerable to severe dengue.

This site does not give medical advice. Whether a dengue vaccine is suitable for a particular child is a decision to make with a doctor, who can take the child's health history into account.

What parents should check

Free public programmes can save a family the cost of a private blood test and vaccine. If you prefer to go private, ask the clinic up front for the price of the consultation, any blood test and each vaccine dose, and whether the follow-up visit is included.

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Sources

Editorial summary written by Best Malaysia Healthcare. Not medical, legal or financial advice; check the original sources.

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