Rabat – Professor Azzedine Ibrahimi, a member of Morocco’s Scientific Committee, has called for the end of the free vaccination campaign in Morocco in his review of the country’s epidemiological situation.
Azedine Ibrahimi is also the director of the biotechnology laboratory at Rabat Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy.
Taking to Facebook on Sunday, Professor Ibrahimi noted that Moroccan and international statistics demonstrate that recent COVID-19 deaths concern unvaccinated people aged over sixty years old when the death of vaccinated individuals from the same age group results from chronic diseases.
The health official recalled the public demand for the normalization of COVID-19, noting that individuals refusing to vaccinate must not halt the gradual return to normal.
He added that cancer, heart disease, and diabetes patients suffered the most in the past two years as their appointments and operations were delayed to meet the need of COVID-19 patients.
To return to normal, Professor Ibrahimi called for “establishing a clear roadmap to get out of the crisis.” The strategy must be based on the perception of COVID-19 as the regular flu, he argued.
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Since the flu vaccines are not free, he called for the end of government provision of free vaccines.
“Maybe we should give a deadline to complete the vaccination protocol and end the free campaign. The bitter truth we have to admit is that we underestimate anything free,” he wrote.
While calling for the normalization of COVID-19, Ibrahimi praised the government’s efforts and hospital and vaccination centers staff professionalism in the management of the epidemiological crisis. He noted the need for reforming the Moroccan health system to improve its services and address the needs of all patients, as stated in the royal agenda for an inclusive health care system.
Giving the example of France and Spain, Ibrahimi additionally urged the government to declare Morocco “open for business” and to loosen restrictions to enter Morocco.
“So each of us has to take responsibility as an individual. You should know that to resume a normal life, the vaccine as prevention is our responsibility, just like wearing a mask as a precaution, carrying out laboratory tests, consulting a doctor, or even taking medication,” he concluded.
Azedine Ibrahimi’s recommendations come as Moroccan trade unions and citizens continue to denounce governmental efforts to reinforce mandatory vaccination for access to workplaces.
