Agadir – Morocco’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection has urged families to check whether their children have received all required vaccine doses, stressing that vaccines included in the National Immunization Program are available free of charge at health centers.
In a statement issued today, the ministry called on families to verify their children’s vaccination records against the national vaccination schedule and visit the nearest health center when additional doses are needed.
The ministry said the call is part of its efforts to strengthen disease prevention and protect children’s health.
The ministry’s latest appeal comes days after it reported two limited family clusters of diphtheria in the Souss-Massa region, with one case confirmed through laboratory testing and eight others under investigation, including two deaths. The clusters were detected in Agadir Ida-Outanane Prefecture and Chtouka-Ait Baha Province.
The ministry also sought to reassure families about vaccine availability, saying that vaccines included in the National Immunization Program are available in sufficient quantities to meet identified needs.
“The vaccines included in the National Immunization Program are available in sufficient quantities to meet the identified needs,” the ministry said.
It added that it is managing the distribution of vaccines to regional warehouses and health centers according to needs to ensure their continued availability.
The vaccines covered by the national program are provided free of charge, the ministry said, allowing families to access the required doses through public health facilities without payment.
Maintaining vaccination coverage
The ministry stressed the importance of maintaining vaccination coverage as part of efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
“Vaccination is one of the most effective means of preventing diseases,” the ministry maintained.
The ministry also linked the emergence of cases of some vaccine-preventable diseases to declining vaccination coverage at both the national and international levels.
The warning comes as health authorities continue to emphasize the role of routine immunization in preventing the spread of diseases that can be controlled through vaccination.
The ministry said completing the vaccination schedule contributes to protecting children while also strengthening broader community protection.
It renewed its call on families to “check their children’s vaccination status and complete the necessary doses when appropriate,” saying this would help protect children’s health and strengthen individual and collective disease prevention.
Read also: Morocco Reports Two Family Clusters of Diphtheria in Souss-Massa
