After months of suffering at the hands of the coronavirus, Morocco looks to begin an ambitious COVID-19 vaccination program. The country is aiming to vaccinate 80% of its adults in the program starting this month. Morocco plans to use a Chinese vaccine recently developed that has yet completed advanced trials to prove it is safe and effective. According to Morocco’s government, the vaccinations would be free of charge to all Moroccan citizens.
Roll out of Vaccination Programs in Different Countries
The Chinese vaccine has been facing public skepticism about its safety and effectiveness. But numerous medical experts and health officials have appeared on television over the past few weeks to promote the vaccine. Through this, they hope that fellow Moroccans will get encouraged to get immunized and stop their doubts about the drug.
This week Britain and the United States also began their vaccination program as well. Britain has opted to use the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in its treatments. But the U.S is racing to approve a series of Western-made vaccines for treatment. Numerous other countries, on the other hand, like Morocco, are looking to make use of vaccines from China and Russia.
The World Health Organization warned such countries like Morocco not to roll out vaccines yet tested to work. The organization advised governments to remain patient and see results first. New vaccines should first be assessed in tens of thousands of individuals to prove they work and don’t cause worrisome side effects before mass immunization. But the U.N health agency says a country decides whether there is an urgent need to use a vaccine shot or not even without such data.
The Sinopharm Chinese Vaccine
So far, Morocco is pinning its hopes on two vaccine candidates. Britain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are developing one vaccine while China’s Sinopharm develops the other. In countries including the U.S and the European Union, the AstraZeneca vaccine is still in advanced trials and hasn’t received approval yet. The Sinopharm vaccine, on the other hand, is approved for emergency use in a few countries, but the developing company is still conducting late-stage clinical trials in 10 countries.
Once domestic regulators approve the vaccines, Morocco looks to start mass immunization with priority going to medical staff and other front line workers and the elderly. Vaccinations will begin with the Sinopharm vaccine, which the government tested n 600 Moroccans as part of clinical trials. According to Morocco’s health minister, the results of the trials proved the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine, with no severe side effects reported. Morocco has ordered 10 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, but it plans to produce the vaccine locally for Moroccans.
Doubts about the Chinese Vaccine
Some Moroccans, however, have taken to social media to question the safety of the vaccine and how effective it will be. Citizens also expressed concerns that government might force them to take the vaccine. But the Moroccan government insists that vaccinations will not be mandatory and will be free. Additionally, the government stated that they would not cut any corners in assuring safety of the Chinese vaccine.
Morocco expects to start the mass immunization operation in mid-December. The operation will include 2,888 vaccination stations and several mobile units to vaccinate people. Moreover, the health ministry plans to mobilize over 12,000 health professionals and military to ensure rapid distribution. Those at significant risk of catching the virus will be the first to receive the vaccine in Morocco.
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