COVID-19: Morocco seeking Sputnik, Johnson & Johnson vaccines

Moroccan authorities are seeking to get the Russian Sputnik V vaccine and the US single shot Johnson & Johnson covid-19 vaccine after the Kingdom received 8.5 million doses including 6 million jabs from AstraZeneca and 2.5 million from China’s Sinopharm.

The Moroccan scientific advisory panel has given its green light for the Russian and American vaccines which can be stored in a refrigerator instead of a freezer. Trials showed they are safe and effective in preventing covid-19 related illness.

According to press reports, Morocco is expected to receive more than 10 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine by June as the purchase order has been placed in January.

The vaccination campaign against Covid-19, which was launched Jan.28 by King Mohammed VI, has enabled the country to inoculate over 4 million people, or 10 pc of the population. Of those inoculated, 717,113 have received the second jab.

By diversifying its suppliers of the vaccine against coronavirus, Morocco looks forward to maintain its immunization momentum as the Kingdom continues to take the lead in Africa, whistle neighboring countries are lagging behind.