Switzerland has a record number of flu vaccine doses
The Swiss flu season starts in January; vaccine supplies can cover nearly a quarter of the population.
Keystone / Marcus Brandt
Nearly two million shots of influenza vaccine are available in Switzerland this year. According to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), this year there is also a significantly higher demand.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/sm
Switzerland, which has a population of 8.5 million, ordered 1.95 million doses of influenza vaccine this year. Last year the figure was 1.18 million; in 2018 it was 1.13 million.
No seasonal flu viruses are currently circulating; the Swiss flu epidemic usually doesn’t start until January. Those who want to be vaccinated must do so beforehand.
The health office reports that this year’s flu vaccine doses are being delivered over a longer period of time. As a result, there could be temporary local shortages due to the high demand in Switzerland and throughout Europe.
For example, canton Ticino in southern Switzerland ran out of its first batch in late October already. According to the FOPH, replenishments arrived nationwide in late November and early December.
Swiss health officials recommend flu vaccinations for people at high risk of complications and their close contacts. Others who want to protect themselves against influenza can also be vaccinated. Even if done in December, there is still enough time for the body’s immune system to build up protection.
The FOPH also confirmed that several cases of simultaneous influenza and Covid-19 infections have been observed internationally. However, it is not yet known how frequent these cases are. Serious cases have been recorded in hospitals in Switzerland.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
This content was published on
The Fête de l'Epouvantail (scarecrow festival) is celebrating its 30th anniversary and returns to Denens in canton Vaud for its seventh edition from July 10-20.
This content was published on
A 35-year-old man has died in a work accident at the valley station of the Heimwehfluh toboggan run in Matten near Interlaken, canton Bern.
This content was published on
The Swiss embassy in Tehran re-opened on Sunday after being closed on June 20 owing to the unstable situation in the country.
This content was published on
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and her youngest daughter Princess Ariane attended the Netherlands' women's European Championship football match against Wales in Switzerland on Saturday.
Swiss want to better protect military airfields from spying
This content was published on
Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister says he wants to better protect Swiss military airfields against espionage activities.
Man charged with flying drone at women’s Euro 2025
This content was published on
A man flew a drone around the venue on Wednesday evening during the first match of the Women's EURO 2025 in St. Gallen. The 30-year-old violated the absolute ban on flying during match days. He was reported to the police.
More than 250 Swiss companies sign CO2 reduction initiative
This content was published on
A total of 257 companies from Switzerland have signed up to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). In doing so, they are committing to CO2 reduction targets that are compatible with the Paris Climate Agreement.
Swiss accident prevention group sees federal targets at risk
This content was published on
The Swiss government's target for accident figures is at risk, reckons Mario Cavegn, member of the executive board of the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention.
Feminicide: Swiss justice minister calls for electronic monitoring
This content was published on
Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans has called for electronic monitoring and an ankle bracelet warning system for perpetrators of violence against women.
This content was published on
After a quiet start to the winter, cases of flu crossed the “epidemic” barrier in the second week of January, the Federal Health Office said on Wednesday.
Join the conversation!