The vaccination against COVID-19 in Morocco: a success story in progress

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 is a respiratory sickness that may spread between persons. It is caused by a novel coronavirus that produces an outbreak in Wuhan, China and spread all over the world to become a pandemic. From the appearance of the first case of the new coronavirus in Morocco, Moroccan authorities has spared no effort to promote the health of Moroccans, ahead of that of the country’s economy. On 22 January 2021, 2 million doses, of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine were delivered to Morocco, with a view to vaccinating 1 million Moroccans in a first phase. On 28 January, the campaign started and the King of Morocco was the 1st Moroccan to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. On 27 February 2021, Morocco has received 1 million doses from the Chinese laboratory Sinopharm and 6 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine allowing Morocco to vaccinate several audiences and the general public over the age of 60, and the most vulnerable. Thereafter, the COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people in 31 March 2021 were 115.89 in Israel, 84.01 in the United Arab Emirates, 52.53 in the United Kingdom, 44.93 in the United States, 45.04 in Bahrain, 21.66 in Morocco, 16.44 in Germany, 8.32 in China, 4.72 in India, and 0.44 in South Africa. Also, the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in 01 April 2021 were 55.51% in Israel, 22.12% in the United Arab Emirates, 20.08% in Chile, 16.77% in USA, 15.25% in Serbia, 15.14%in Bahrain, 10.21% in Morocco, 8.94% in Hungary, 8.23% in Turkey, 7.29% in UK, 3.07% in Russia, 2.39% in Brazil, 1.70% in Uruguay, 0.70% in India, and 0.45% in South Africa. This allows Morocco to figure in the top 10 countries fully vaccinated against COVID-19 despite the lack of resources and belonging to developing countries. Finally, our study gives an example to other countries to benefit from the Moroccan experience. Nevertheless, vaccination is only one element of a comprehensive COVID-19 strategy, it must be accompanied by measures to reduce circulating infection and keep them low.