Rabat – Moroccan citizens are not unanimously in favor of Morocco’s decision to implement the mandatory vaccination pass in the country, which takes effect on Thursday, October 21.
Morocco’s national vaccination campaign has made significant progress, however many are now questioning whether a vaccine pass is necessary to enter public spaces or board public transportation.
In response to the mandatory health pass mandate, a collective has been formed to launch a petition.
The petitioners criticized the “arbitrary” implementation of this mandate, “a lack of communication on the part of the government” and “a lack of respect for the concerns or coercion of some citizens.”
“Vaccination has never been mandatory, so it is incomprehensible that the freedom of movement and rights of citizens are restricted without being informed within a reasonable time,” some of the protestors argued.
The collective urges the Moroccan government to establish a two-month notice period, or a moratorium, on the compulsory vaccine pass, “to allow citizens wishing to be vaccinated to do so in a clear and definitive time for everyone to assume their responsibilities.
Over 20,979 people have already signed the petition as of this Thursday morning, October 21.
Several Moroccan citizens have reacted to the new government decision with varying and divided opinions.
Morocco has operated on a license-based system since the imposition of a state of health emergency in March 2020, as part of its efforts to stop the spread of infection with the virus.
The license-based system required Moroccans who wanted to travel beyond their city borders to acquire a special licence from local authorities and administrations to permit them from entering another city.
Some Moroccans have questioned the legality of imposing the “immunization permit” at a time when the country’s constitution permits freedom of movement.
Those who held this view argued that the obligation to obtain a vaccination passport in order to enter public places is in conflict with the principle of vaccination, which remains optional, as confirmed by the previous government.
The vaccine passport can be used to gain access to public, semi-public and private administrations, as well as to enter hotel and tourist establishments, restaurants, cafes, indoor places, shops, sports gyms and bathrooms.
Moroccan authorities announced the decision to have a mandatory vaccine pass earlier this week, in an attempt to encourage reluctant citizens to get vaccinated.
The government aims to achieve an 80% national vaccination rate by the end of 2021, in an effort to ease the restrictions imposed following the outbreak of the pandemic.
Currently, there are over 21 million people who have been fully vaccinated in Morocco.
Following a successful vaccination campaign, there was a stagnation in vaccination administrations, preventing the country from reaching its vaccination goal.
