COVID: 17 million people still didn't receive third booster shot in Morocco

Over 17 million of Morocco’s population have yet to receive the third booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Health Ministry’s recent data.

Morocco’s vaccination campaign has received poor demands from citizens nationwide, especially for the third shot, despite the country’s efforts to encourage citizens to receive their shots in order to contain the virus and boost protection.

According to the Health Ministry’s data received by Hespress regarding the conduct of the vaccination process, the number of people whose vaccine passes have expired exceeds 17 million, therefore still didn’t receive the third shot.

Data shows the poor demand for the third shot in the country despite the intense demand for it last October, following the government’s announcement to impose the mandate vaccine pass to access outdoor places.

However, the loose application of the vaccine pass contributed to the weak demand for the third shot among citizens.

Morocco’s Health Minister, Khalid Ait Taleb stated during the meeting in the House of Representatives, the low turnout of citizens to receive the COVID-19 third shot is mainly due to rumors and fake news spreading on social media against the vaccine.

Ait Taleb considered fake news circulating on social media caused this poor demand for the third shot.

The Health Ministry has previously called on people to receive the third shot in order to boost protection against COVID-19, especially the new Omicron variant.

In late December, the Health Ministry announced moving towards a four months interval between the second and third shot of vaccines instead of six, part of new procedures aimed at containing the fourth wave of Covid-19.

According to a recent British study, two shots of the COVID-19 vaccine are not sufficient, as their antibodies decrease against the Omicron variant.

Following findings from the UK health agency, booster shots significantly restore protection by over 70%.