Rabat – Morocco is expecting new batches of Sinopharm and Pfizer vaccines in the coming days, according to Said Afif, a member of the national vaccination committee.
In a statement to Morocco World News, Afif said China will supply over five million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, while the US will supply 980,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to Morocco in the coming days.
Morocco has mobilized resources to ensure an uninterrupted supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses, enough to immunize the entire population.
As of today, nearly 60% of 12-17 year olds in school have received the first dose of the vaccine, with over 18.35 million fully vaccinated residents, while 21.91 million people have received the first dose.
According to Afif, Morocco has sufficient stock to vaccinate an additional 27 million people.
Morocco’s national vaccination committee has also announced plans to administer a third “booster” vaccine shot, mainly targeting people with chronic diseases and COVID frontline workers, such as doctors, civil services, security services and educators.
However, Morocco’s vaccination ambitions extend beyond securing an adequate source of COVID-19 vaccines.
The country is undertaking the task of developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines and pharmaceutical products in large quantities, intended primarily for supplying the African markets.
Afif confirmed to Morocco World News that the government expects the manufacturing sites to be operational by December.
Additionally, Afif assured Morocco World News once again that, “the vaccination is crucial for the alleviation of some sanitary restrictions currently enforced,” adding that the scientific committee is considering lifting some restrictions on vaccinated residents in the upcoming days.
In addition to the declining number of daily infections, hospital occupancy rates have dropped sharply, said Afif.
Morocco has overcome a worrying third wave of COVID-19 infections this summer.
Hospital bed occupancy did not exceed 50%, while the daily infection and death rates have dropped significantly.
