Covid-19: Morocco hits WHO’s Vaccination Target

Morocco has already reached the global covid vaccination target set in May by the World Health Organization in order to protect 10 pc of the most vulnerable of each country’s population against coronavirus by the end of September.

Morocco has administered at least 34,160,942 doses of COVID vaccines so far. The number of people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Kingdom exceeded  15 million, about 46.8% of the country’s population.

So far, only nine African countries, including South Africa, Morocco and Tunisia, hit the target, said on Thursday WHO regional Office Africa, warning that the majority of countries of the continent, nearly 80 pc of Africa’s population, are set to miss the goal if the current pace of vaccine deliveries and vaccinations continue.

“Vaccine hoarding has held Africa back and we urgently need more vaccines, but as more doses arrive, African countries must drive forward precise plans to rapidly vaccinate the millions of people that still face a grave threat from Covid-19,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Almost 21 million Covid-19 vaccines arrived in Africa via the COVAX Facility in August, an amount equal to the previous four months combined. With more vaccines expected from COVAX and the African Union by the end of September, enough doses will be delivered to the continent to meet the 10% target, he added.

Over 143 million doses have been delivered to Africa and 39 million people, just 3 pc of Africa’s population, are fully vaccinated. In comparison, 52% of people are fully vaccinated in the United States and 57% in the European Union.