Morocco Faces Flu Vaccine Shortage Amid Health Ministry Challenges

This year, three elements will greatly limit access to the much sought-after VaxiGrip in Morocco. These are, according to Hespress, the very limited quantity ordered by the Ministry of Health, the delivery of the vaccine conditional on a prescription, and the price of the vaccine itself.

Pointing the finger at the quantity ordered by the ministry, but also the vaccine supplier, voices are being raised, including that of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH). Its president, Aziz Ghali, sees "an inability of the ministry to manage the situation". According to him, "Last year, the ministry had provided 600,000 doses, of which 200,000 were reserved for government departments and uniformed personnel, and 400,000 were sold in pharmacies. This year, it has ordered less. And after the health personnel, the Ramedists and others, there will be a minimal quantity that will undoubtedly generate a real crisis," he laments.

According to Aziz Ghali, the need would be estimated at "some 6 to 7 million, and we don’t even have half the necessary doses". Faced with this situation, he recommends that people with chronic diseases be vaccinated first. Returning to the cause of this "shortage", Aziz Ghali holds the Ministry of Health responsible. The department has opted for the choice of a single supplier, namely the French Sanofi, who has prioritized France and Europe. But faced with the long waiting lists already in place, "It would have been more relevant and effective to multiply the suppliers, to go and get the product where we can cover all our needs, and with affordable prices in addition, especially since it was foreseeable that there would be a rush," regrets this pharmacist by training.

Referring to the delay in the delivery of the vaccine, Ghali affirms that a race against time is already underway. Because, points out this specialist in biology and head of research at the People’s Health Movement (PHM), this situation will surely reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine, which becomes "useless" if done after November 15, because it will only be active from December 1. As for the price of the vaccine, it has increased, going from 72.80 to 123.50 dirhams, in addition to the medical consultation (minimum of 150 dirhams). In total, the cost will be 290 dirhams, a sum that is not within the reach of all budgets, he insists. And to add that "Many at-risk subjects will be unable to access the vaccine, because it is too expensive or simply unavailable, and it is the ministry that will be responsible for any complication or deterioration of their health".

Furthermore, Aziz Ghali indicated that the AMDH "holds the ministry responsible for anything that will result from this poor way of apprehending an already critical situation".