Morocco Considering Third COVID-19 Dose

Moroccan health authorities are reportedly considering the possibility of administering a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine to ‘at-risk groups’.

Rabat – Moroccan health authorities are reportedly considering the possibility of administering a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine to ‘at-risk groups’.

Following the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Morocco, Moroccan health authorities are investigating their options for minimizing the pandemic’s fallout, including vaccinating elderly Moroccans who might still be at risk despite having completed the vaccination regimen, local Moroccan media reports.

At-risk group consists of a minority of elderly people who may suffer serious health complications such as cancer, diabetes, or other factors that may weaken their immunity to vaccination. A third dose is currently under consideration by Morocco’s National Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee on Immunization.

“As soon as we have completed our work, we will send our conclusions to the Minister who will in turn validate or not validate,” the chairman of Morocco’s technical and scientific committee Moulay Tahar Alaoui told local media. The committee has not finished studying the possibility yet, he added.

Aside from at-risk groups suffering from chronic diseases, another group under consideration include individuals who have contracted the virus despite receiving both doses of the vaccine.

Israel has already begun administering a third dose to its population, while countries such as the UK, France, and Belgium are still debating the possibility.

Morocco’s COVID-19 infection rate has been steadily increasing over the past couple of weeks, following the spread of the Delta variant worldwide. On July 19, Morocco’s health authorities recorded 1,153 new COVID-19 cases and 1,580 recoveries. Meanwhile, over 21 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to Morocco’s population.

As part of Morocco’s renewed efforts in pushing through its national vaccination campaign, local health authorities have administered 11,410,509 first doses, and an additional 9,692,075 second doses to Moroccans and Moroccan residents alike.