Since the announcement of the fourth booster dose for certain categories of citizens, demand has not been there, according to the figures communicated by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, despite the insistence of specialists .
The Ministry of Health sent, on July 1, a circular to all regional health directors, recommending the injection of a fourth dose of anti-Covid vaccine to the elderly and those with morbidity factors, to cope with the surge in cases during this summer period.
That said, and until Monday July 11, only 4,891 people benefited from this fourth booster dose against 6,581,440 D3 beneficiaries, 23,349,159 D2 beneficiaries and 24,862,273 D1 beneficiaries.
In this sense, Dr. Tayeb Hamdi, doctor, researcher in health policies and systems, indicated that the average age of deaths due to Covid-19 in Morocco reached 68 years, during the current wave, and around 9 out of 10 of those who died were over the age of 60, while 19 out of 20 people who died had at least one chronic disease.
In his analysis, the specialist reported that 86% of deaths from Covid-19 were recorded among unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people, half of whom received no dose, despite their age and chronic illnesses. Most of the other people who died received only one or two doses and became infected a year after their dose.
But not only ! Dr. Hamdi continues that ten people have died despite having received three doses of the anti-covid vaccine. They were over 62 years old and suffered from chronic illnesses, he added before specifying that they contracted the virus more than six months after the booster dose instead of the recommended four months.
Thus, the doctor and researcher in policy and health system explained that the fourth dose is intended only for people with major frailty, and those aged 65 and over or who suffer from serious chronic diseases.
In addition, Dr. Mouad Mrabet had confided on July 5, during the weekly epidemiological update, that the average age of deceased patients is 68 years and 84% are over 60 years old. Also, 95% of them suffered from chronic diseases, said the coordinator of the National Center for Public Health Emergency Operations at the Ministry of Health.
Regarding their vaccination status, Dr. Mrabet had indicated that 42% were absolutely not vaccinated and 34% had received one or two doses more than a year ago.
Also, ten people who had received three doses died, he said, noting that more than six months have passed since the reception of the third dose. However, he said his people were over the age of 62 and suffered from chronic illnesses.
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