It is completely understandable that many are tired of the restrictions imposed due to Covid-19. Consequently, the desire for normal life to resume is more and more tangible within the community. Whether it be students, staff, or faculty, everyone is hoping to restart postponed sports seasons, attend classes more easily, enjoy normal vacations, and participate in gatherings. This blind optimism stems from the fact that individuals have begun to fasten their hopes on a medical breakthrough as promising developments have taken place, such as a possible COVID-19 vaccine.
The Moroccan state declared that the vaccination campaign will begin “in a few weeks,” specifying that all Moroccans aged 18 and over are eligible to receive the vaccine developed by China’s Sinopharm. However, the initiative will first prioritize frontline workers, elderly people, and individuals with chronic conditions. In the Moroccan trial of the Sinopharm vaccine, healthy volunteers received two separate doses of the vaccine. Early results have proven the vaccine to be “safe and effective” with no serious side effects reported, according to the health minister. The Moroccan King, Mohammed VI, announced that the vaccine will be free for all Moroccans, ensuring its access to the whole population.
After this national announcement, a barrage of questions can pop up in one’s head. What is the university’s position vis-à-vis the situation? Where do students/staff/ faculty stand in this? Will the vaccine be a pre-requisite for Spring 2021?
The opinions of the community diverge between skepticism about the safety/ effectiveness of the vaccine and complete trust in the injections. For instance, some would prefer not to come on campus during Spring 2021 in hope of avoiding the second effect of the vaccine, as explained by Mehdi Alami Idrissi, an AUI student. Meanwhile, Othmane Dahi, an AUIer, sees that the vaccine will be effective since it was tested on a very large sample.
Finally, the university did not release any official statement regarding this. There is no information about the way AUI will proceed with this for next semester. Students are left in a bubble of uncertainty about the eventualities of this vaccination campaign as well as the scenarios expected for Spring 2021.