Morocco to receive 4 million AstraZeneca doses soon, Indian media

Morocco is expected to receive 4 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine made by Serum institute in India, after Indian foreign ministry cleared 24 million doses for export, Hindustan Times reported.

In addition to Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Mauritius, Philippines, Serbia, UAE and Qatar, will also receive AstraZeneca doses on a commercial basis, said the media.

Morocco has ordered 25.5 million doses from Serum Institute of India. He received a first delivery in January of 2 million doses.

According to Moroccan media, Morocco is also about to receive next week 500,000 additional doses from Sinopharm, after a first stock of 500,000 received in January.

The kingdom is also planning to receive shortly another batch of AstraZeneca vaccine estimated at 1,881,600 doses to be delivered by Covax, a global platform which aims to accelerate access to anti-COVID-19 tools. Covax is co-led by the Coalition for Innovations in Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI), the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Morocco was the first country in Africa to launch a national vaccination campaign on Jan.28 after it received 2 million doses from AstraZeneca and 500,000 from Sinopharm.

The country has vaccinated 746,116 people, that means the number of inoculated people is higher than coronavirus infections which stood at 476,689 by February 10.

Morocco thus stands out as the leader in vaccination in Africa, and also ranks twelfth on the Oxford University list of new vaccinations. The Kingdom outstrips several countries, including Spain and Saudi Arabia.

In the last 24 hours, Moroccan health authorities have inoculated more than 65,000 people with the vaccine.

Morocco has ordered enough vaccines for 33 million people as it plans to reach herd immunity as soon as possible to unlock the economy.