Vaccine pass stirs controversy in Morocco

The Moroccan government has given a short three-day notice before it started imposing the coronavirus vaccine pass for access to public places, administrations and inter-city travel triggering a backlash from unvaccinated people.

Supermarkets, malls and some public administrations as well as the tramway have started on Oct 21 asking citizens to show their vaccine pass for access.

The decision created controversy and divided society and politicians who called on the government to backtrack on the decision.

A petition launched online was signed by 20,000 people rejecting the decision citing the too short notice and the absence of a public debate about it.

A union of café and restaurant owners said they would not implement the decision because they had no legal capacity to check people’s vaccine status.

Opposition political parties such as the PPS, PSU and the PJD said the decision violated the freedom of citizens.

The Health Minister who was summoned to be questioned about the decision by MPs said the vaccine pass can be downloaded after receiving the first dose.

However, he stressed the need for citizens who have been fully vaccinated six months ago to take a third dose.

Morocco has Africa’s largest vaccinated population inoculating over 22 million people in a population of 36 million.