Switzerland recommends Covid jab for pregnant women
Medical staff member prepares a Covid vaccination
Keystone / Michael Buholzer
Swiss government experts are recommending that pregnant women get the Covid jab from the second trimester onwards. This is in line with advice issued in other countries.
Previously, pregnant women were allowed to receive the vaccination, but were required to have a medical consultation first and sign a declaration of consent. This is no longer required.
The recommendation comes into effect immediately.
Christoph Berger, president of the Federal Vaccination Commission, said at a press conference on Tuesday that the advice also applied to breastfeeding women and those planning a pregnancy.
Mounting data showed that the advantage of being vaccinated outweighed the risks of developing severe illness due to the virus, Berger said. Pregnant women were more at risk of being hospitalised with Covid-19 or even ending up on the intensive care unit, he explained. The risk of miscarriage is also higher.
The Zurich professor pointed to data from the United States which showed no safety concerns for around 150,000 pregnant women who had been vaccinated against Covid-19.
A vaccine recommendation has also been issued in England, France and most recently Germany, he underlined. There is also no evidence of the vaccine causing fertility problems in women or men, the expert said.
Popular Stories
More
Demographics
Flat-hunting in Switzerland’s cheapest and most expensive municipalities
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?
Ex-employee of Bank Pictet convicted of money laundering
This content was published on
The Geneva-based bank Pictet has been fined CHF2 million for shortcomings in its organisation which enabled a former asset manager to commit serious money laundering.
20 Minuten: last Swiss free daily to stop being printed
This content was published on
From the end of the year, there will no longer be a daily free newspaper in Switzerland: the TX Group is discontinuing the print version of "20 Minuten". Up to 80 full-time positions are to be cut in the editorial and publishing departments.
This content was published on
The Swiss population is in favour of compulsory military service and closer ties with NATO. These are the findings of the "Security 2025" study.
Irregular migration to Switzerland halves year-on-year
This content was published on
Irregular migration to Switzerland has decreased significantly. The figures from January to May show that only half as many illegal stays were recorded compared to the same period last year.
This content was published on
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is to cut around 3,500 jobs as a result of financial cuts linked in particular to US decisions. Hundreds of temporary contracts will also be cut, the UN agency said in Geneva on Monday.
Swiss government to help cantons in expelling rejected asylum-seekers
This content was published on
The federal government is to provide greater relief and support to the cantons when it comes to deporting people who are not entitled to asylum in Switzerland.
This content was published on
One in four people in Switzerland feels stressed often or almost always. Among the under-30s, the figure is as high as 40%.
This content was published on
The permafrost in the Swiss Alps is thawing faster and faster. The thawed top layers of permafrost have never been as thick as they were last year. This is shown by the latest data from the Swiss permafrost monitoring network Permos.
This content was published on
The coronavirus pandemic is subsiding, Swiss government experts say. Pregnant women in the second trimester may now get vaccinated against the virus.
Vaccination chief calls for end to school quarantine for children
This content was published on
The head of the Federal Vaccination Commission has said that quarantine rules for children over Covid-19 “make little sense at the moment”.
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.