MOROCCO’S HEALTH MINISTER JUSTIFIES MANDATORY VACCINE PASS

Tue 26 October 2021:

Morocco’s health minister said on Monday that the introduction of a vaccine pass to get entry to public locations last week had resulted in a fivefold rise in persons seeking vaccinations, despite opposition to the policy in parliament.

On Thursday, the government launched the pass, which grants entry to all government facilities as well as cafés, restaurants, theatres, gyms, and public transit, with the goal of expanding Africa’s largest COVID-19 vaccination program.

The pass has been criticized by the cafe and restaurant owners’ union, the lawyers’ union, rights organizations, and some opposition parties as unconstitutional, arbitrary, and a threat to the economy.

Health Minister Khaled Ait Taleb, speaking in parliament, said the decision was in line with an emergency government decree issued last year giving authorities the right to take exceptional measures to protect public health.

“The adoption of the vaccine pass aims to encourage people who have not been inoculated yet to get vaccinated and to prevent virus hot spots,” he said.

The number of people getting vaccinated had risen by more than 400 percent since the pass was imposed, he said.

Morocco has given vaccines to 64 percent of its population, primarily from AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Pfizer. It has also begun delivering booster vaccinations.

Morocco will be able to vaccinate 6 million individuals in the coming weeks, achieving a collective immunity level of 80 percent of its population over the age of 12, he said.

According to opposition members, two parliament members were denied access to the minister’s question session due to a lack of consultation and too little notice before the pass was imposed.

(with agency)

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