Vaccinations are underway across Switzerland, but demand for vaccines currently far outstrips supply. The fact that certain medicines are in short supply while some people may be in urgent need of vaccination is attracting the attention of fraudsters, warned Swissmedic.
“Criminal individuals and organisations are exploiting people’s fears by offering medicines and vaccines on the internet. They are posing as doctors or online pharmacies with the aim of making a lot of money as fast as they can,” it said in a statementExternal link.
The public should not order any medicines or vaccines through the internet as they could pose a health risk, it declared.
“Very often, the products they are offering are fakes that either contain no active ingredients at all or else contain dangerous substances that can endanger people’s health. In many cases, advance payments are made and nothing is ever delivered,” Swissmedic added.
The health regulator said cantonal vaccination programmes currently underway offered Covid vaccines free of charge to Swiss residents – with the elderly and vulnerable as a priority.
“There will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants to be vaccinated,” it said.
Ambitious campaign
To help defeat the virus, the Swiss government wants to vaccinate six million people or 70% of the population – on a voluntary basis – by summer, involving up to 70,000 vaccine shots per day.
The aim is for all elderly residents of old people’s homes to get a jab by the end of January. Anyone over 75 and the most vulnerable should get a shot by the end of February, followed by 70% of over-65s by the end of March. The rest of the population should then follow.
To achieve this ambitious goal, Switzerland has reserved about 15.8 million vaccine doses from Pfizer/BioNTech (3 million), Moderna (7.5 million) and Oxford/AstraZeneca (5.3 million). Campaigns have begun with an initial 230,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine delivered to the cantons with the help of the Swiss army.
“Anyone wishing to be vaccinated should consult their doctor and be vaccinated at an official vaccination point. If you wish to be vaccinated against Covid-19, please contact your cantonal authority,” said Swissmedic.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss study: insects mainly migrate at midday and dusk
This content was published on
A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
This content was published on
The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
This content was published on
Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
This content was published on
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
Artificial intelligence helps bring about record-fast vaccines
This content was published on
The development of two highly effective Covid-19 vaccines in record time was made possible thanks to artificial intelligence.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.