Covid-19 collective immunity could be achieved in early May, Health Minister Khalid Ait Taleb said.
In an interview with MAP’s monthly magazine “BAB”, Ait Taleb stressed that “we could possibly be in herd immunity in early May” based on a 12-week vaccination schedule.
According to scientific and epidemiological indicators recognized by the World health Organization (WHO), it would require reaching more than 60%of the population to achieve collective immunity.
The Kingdom has made the choice to target 80% of the population in order to quickly emerge from this pandemic that has impacted it socially and economically, stressed Ait Taleb, adding that achieving collective immunity would take time.
The minister explained that the campaign would take place during the pandemic period and therefore in strict compliance with the barrier measures. It will take more than 14 days after receiving the second dose for each individual to reach a certain level of immunity, he said.
Only time will tell how long Covid-19 vaccine will remain effective, or whether in the future the virus will become seasonal like H1N1, which has entered the influenza vaccination schedule, Ait Taleb stated.
On the launch date of the vaccination campaign, the minister said it would be officially announced after the vaccine is received.
To date, there is no precise calendar, but preparations are under way and the mechanism is being put in place, he noted, stressing Morocco’s readiness to begin the vaccination campaign.
This is a large-scale operation that will affect the entire national territory and will require very significant logistical and human resources and flawless organization, Ait Taleb observed.
The minister acknowledged the existence of minor shortcomings in the management of non-Covid-19 diseases in general. He noted in that regard that “there was a global health emergency and its management was a priority.”
The health system was able to establish Covid-19 dedicated structures that operated independently of non-Covid structures so that patients could continue to have access to care, the official explained.
Referring to the generalization of the Compulsory Health Insurance (AMO), Ait Taleb underlined that medical coverage must be part of an approach of solidarity between the different categories of the population. The process of generalization must kick-off as of 2021, he said.
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