Moroccan Athletes Not Prioritized for COVID-19 Vaccine Ahead of Competitions

Since the launch of the vaccination campaign in Morocco, everyone is eager to receive their dose to protect themselves against the coronavirus. As major international and local competitions approach, athletes who are concerned about their case will not be able to be taken into account. They are not among the priority people targeted by the health authorities for the ongoing campaign, reports Al Akhbar.

Like the non-priority population, athletes will have to wait their turn, says a source close to the Ministry of Sports. The same goes for the Olympic Committee. Less than 7 months before the start of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, opinions are divided on this vaccination issue. While some believe that athletes should be vaccinated to avoid a likely epidemic at this international competition, others think otherwise.

On the side of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), President Infantino supports the view that priority should be given to the elderly and healthcare personnel. "It is possible that we will recommend vaccination at some point, but all of this will of course be done in compliance with the order of vaccine distribution," Gianni Infantino said at a press conference of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the coronavirus crisis.