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. Two schools operated by the Agence pour l'Enseignement Français à l'Etranger (AEFE) in Casablanca—Lycée Louis Massignon and Lycée Lyautey—are responding to measles control measures after confirmed cases were detected. A note shared with parents, reviewed by Yabiladi, outlines that students' return to class will be contingent upon recent vaccination or parental authorization for vaccination in the coming days. At Lycée Lyautey, a vaccination campaign is scheduled to begin on February 10, following guidelines from Morocco's Ministry of Health and Social Protection. The school administration informed parents that students vaccinated within the past four weeks are exempt from the campaign but must submit a recent vaccination certificate via email by Wednesday, February 12. The introduction of a third dose for high school students has sparked debate. Health professionals have questioned its necessity, given the efficacy of the standard two-dose regimen. «I've never seen a case of measles in children immunized with two doses (MMR). I don't see the point of a third dose», remarked a pediatrician, who expressed reluctance to administer it to his children and patients. Efforts to contact Lycée Lyautey's health department for clarification were unsuccessful. The Ministry of Health continues to emphasize vaccination as the most effective preventative measure against measles, particularly in schools. The national campaign also includes catch-up vaccinations for children under 18. Third Dose Not Mandatory After All Following consultations with the Casablanca-Settat Regional Health and Social Protection Department on Sunday, Lycée Lyautey informed parents that compulsory vaccination would apply only to the class where the measles case was identified. For other classes, the third dose is merely recommended, and the standard two-dose regimen remains sufficient. For students in the affected class, the Regional Directorate outlined specific criteria for readmission: students must have received a measles vaccine within the past four weeks, plan to be vaccinated on February 10 or 11, present serological proof of measles immunity, or provide documentation confirming prior measles infection. The school administration emphasized that any student failing to meet these criteria would be subject to a 14-day isolation period, starting from the date of contact with the infected student. The situation highlights the importance of vaccination as a key strategy in combating the spread of measles in Moroccan schools.
