Moroccans opt for Pfizer for their children, as vaccination tally rises

Accompanied by their parents, kids aged 17 to 12-years-old walk every day toward Dar Essalam High School for their first Pfizer jab.

“Approximately, 300 students receive a jab per day. Our main focus is to provide a safe environment for both students and teachers,” said Bader Boudelali, Director of Dar Essalam High School in an interview with Hespress Eng.

Under a tent, both parents and children wait in line until it is their turn to head to a desk, in which their identity and student code are checked by a few officials along with the director of the high school.

Hespress English interviewed some parents to inquire about their vaccines of choice, with Morocco offering both Sinopharm and Pfizer for students.

Hicham Boudraa, a father of two girls aged 12 and 14 explained: “Doctors advised me to choose Pfizer for my daughters because the vaccine showed positive results in other countries.”

Boudraa’s reasoning is shared by most of the parents present at the vaccination center.

To Fadwa Chraibi “children follow a parental choice,” adding “Pfizer was not only my daughter’s choice but mine initially. Continents like Europe and America have chosen this vaccine for their children given that it has more immunity than Sinopharm.”

On the same topic, Director Badr Boudlali said “we focus on parental consent so that the operation would be legal. It is for the parents to take responsibility.”

With an innocent tone, the daughter of Kenza Chraibi expressed: “In France, one can’t take trains or buses unless jabbed by a recognized vaccine.”

To most students, traveling and studying abroad constitute their biggest concern. Pfizer becomes their only ticket to pursue studies abroad.

Having just had his first jab, 17-years-old Adam Bedraoui described his experience: “Though there were few students who fainted, I got my vaccine done and everything went well. Precautions are mandatory, even if we got vaccinated.”

Moulay Said Afif, President of the Moroccan Association of Medical Sciences and member of the assembly commented on the recently declared delay of school season expected to be October the first: “a wise decision made by the ministry of education for a safe presential school entry.”

According to Afif, there is no specific reason why Pfizer was particularly used for the 12 to 17-year-old category, adding “after many negotiations” Morocco could finally receive the Pfizer jab.

“Our aim is to firstly secure the health of the kids, for a safe familial environment that itself will lead to a safe educational entourage,” Explains president Afif.

“If we recorded a high number of vaccinated people, we will normally favor the vaccinated category,” States Afif. “What is more, health comes before economy.” He elaborates.

“390,000 children have received the first injection of the vaccine against the emerging coronavirus, a week after the launch of the vaccination campaign for the 12-17-year-olds,” Health ministry sources told Hespress, stating that “the process is continuing under favorable conditions, and we are waiting for the numbers to increase.”

When talking about the efficiency of the vaccine, one of the parents told Hespress English: “A lot of studies were made, but at the end of the day we have no choice but to give ourselves up to the vaccine.”