Since Friday, tensions have been rising between Lycée Lyautey and parents. After a case of measles was detected in a middle school class, the school administration initially mandated compulsory vaccination for all students—even those already vaccinated—before later backtracking on the decision.
As students return to classrooms after the school break, the urgent need for collective immunization against the measles epidemic becomes even more pressing in Morocco. While the Ministry has extended the catch-up vaccination campaign, specialists emphasize the importance of vigilance in monitoring immunization against other deadly childhood diseases and advocate for making vaccination mandatory.
Morocco's fight against measles began in the 1980s with nationwide vaccination campaigns that significantly reduced cases during the 1990s and early 2000s. However, recent increases in cases, driven by declining vaccination rates, have raised concerns.