France Rejects Chinese Vaccines, Frustrating French Expats in Morocco

It is through a letter dated June 9 addressed to Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and the Francophonie, that the Moroccan branch of the association Les Français du Monde, expressed its disappointment, following the rejection by France of the Chinese vaccines from the Sinopharm laboratory, the very ones that were administered to the French residing in Morocco. Through this document, they are inviting the French authority to validate these Chinese vaccines, in order to allow them a good return to their country.

To read:

Addressing her gratitude to the Moroccan government, Bérangère El Anbassi, President of the Français du Monde association, indicated that "the French of Morocco appreciated the policy of the Moroccan government which consisted in allowing foreign residents in Morocco to be vaccinated against Covid under the same conditions as the Moroccan population". Moreover, "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed this coverage by the Moroccan authorities of the vaccination of French nationals living in Morocco," she added.

However, "our compatriots are shocked that France does not accept the Sinopharm vaccine that was administered to them when it is recognized by the WHO." Described as "unilateral and arbitrary", this invalidation "will penalize a large number of French vaccinated in Morocco, upon their return to France this summer, by cutting their stay short by seven days due to self-isolation," said El Anbassi, trying to "convince the decision-makers in this matter to also validate Sinopharm and any other vaccine approved by the WHO, which in the future could be offered in Morocco."