Spring 2021 just started, and we can already feel that the campus is vibrant! As housing was used to its full capacity, more and more continuing students reconnected with their AUI roots. However, strict COVID-19 protocols are still being enforced in the university: the two hours and thirty-minutes twice a day rule, no gatherings in restaurants, and so on and so forth.
On Thursday, January 28th the kingdom of Morocco initiated its coronavirus vaccine program, targeting health personnel, security forces, and citizens over 75 years old. According to the Moroccan authorities, vaccinations will be free of charge and ought to mobilize more than 12,000 healthcare professionals and even the security apparatus to give out two doses of the vaccine over 21 days to the aforementioned categories.
The decision of mass vaccination will involve 2,888 vaccination stations and the deployment of mobile units to factories, offices, prisons, and campuses. As a matter of fact, Al Akhawayn University’s campus is not immune to this national decision. One can ask him/herself: Where does AUI stand in this situation?
AUI’s Vaccination Campaign
On Friday, January 29th, AUI student, staff and faculty received an email from Dr. Cherif Belfekih about the start of the vaccination campaign in AUI’s campus. The university was asked to provide lists of all the members of the community aged 45 and above, to be vaccinated as a first batch on campus. It was also made clear in the email that “other groups of the community would follow”. As a matter of fact, AUI campus was among the first campuses to start the vaccination process.
On February 2nd and 3rd, the campaign took place in the conference room of Building 2. The space was sanitized and prepared to welcome staff and faculty to be vaccinated, under the supervision of health authorities and the help of Dr Guenoun along with other personnel from the Health Center.
In fact, 368 staff and faculty qualified to have the AstraZeneca vaccine of which 310 faculty and staff were successfully vaccinated. The remaining 58 had either allergies, chronic diseases, were abroad or on sick leave or in other cities for the moment. According to Dr Cherif Belfekih, the Executive Director for Institutional Research and Effectiveness, the second round of vaccination known as “the booster dose” will be administered 28 days after the first dose, approximately on the 2nd of March. At this moment, a high number of follow ups are being done to ensure that no severe side effects were detected.
According to Dr. Belfekih: “The vaccine was never mandatory for Staff and faculty”. However, it is within the university’s legal power to require the vaccine certificate in order for members of the community to use some of the university’s facilities (gym, restaurants) but not classes.
“When the government decides to vaccinate the 18-25 category, the university can help with the logistics in order to vaccinate students on campus. We hope that this campaign will allow things to go back to normal by Fall.”
Dr. Belfekih, Executive Director for Institutional Research and Effectiveness
Fall 2021: Will life finally go back to normal?
Morocco is leading when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination in the African continent. This situation fosters a small glimmer of hope in everyone: the optimism and conviction that classes will resume face to face for everyone, that students will be able to share a meal in the different restaurants, hang out freely inside or outside campus. Everyone hopes that Fall 2021 turns out different, COVID free, and all this experience since Spring 2020 will just become ancient history behind us.
“I think that with the start of the vaccination campaign, taking the vaccine will be the price to pay for our freedom”
Imad Ouahbi, Sophomore Student
