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The seasonal flu will also wreak havoc in Switzerland this winter. In the fight against this, the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) wanted to purchase 2.5 million doses of vaccines. Double that in previous years, so that the winter flu does not put a heavy burden on the health system in addition to the corona virus.
But so far, the BAG has only 1.6 million cans in a safe, as the office says at BLICK’s request. This means that not even everyone in risk groups and everyone over 65, a total of 2.7 million people, could be vaccinated in this country.
BAG spokesman Yann Hulmann says: There are options for more doses that still need to be negotiated and clarified. Based on VIEW research, there is currently no guarantee for further deliveries.
Sold out and no further deliveries possible
Because Fluarix Tetra, one of the two flu vaccines approved by the British company Glaxo Smith Kline, is out of stock, as confirmed by its Swiss spokesman Urs Kientsch. No further delivery to Switzerland is possible in addition to the 650,000 cans ordered.
Reason: Production volumes are planned more than a year in advance. A post-production is technically not possible. All cans produced by Fluarix Tetra have already been distributed to the countries of Europe.
The French company Sanofi delivers one million doses of the second approved flu vaccine, Vaxigrip Tetra, in Switzerland. That is two and a half times more than usual. To this day, Sanofi does not know if subsequent deliveries for Switzerland are possible. “The clarifications are in full swing,” says Sanofi Switzerland spokesman Jacques-Henri Weidmann.
People at risk have priority
Although the FOPH does not prioritize risk groups, general practitioners are beginning to select them. Philippe Luchsinger, board member of the Swiss Family Physicians Association, says: “We will first vaccinate people at risk. Only when it turns out that we have enough vaccines for the others, we will vaccinate them as well. “
For people who do not belong to the vulnerable group, the family doctor from Affoltern am Albis ZH wants to wait and postpone them for later.
Those willing to vaccinate must be patient
Does FOPH have to ration the flu vaccine? This is not currently planned, according to BAG spokesman Hulmann. The flu vaccine is still recommended for people at increased risk of flu complications, healthcare professionals, and others who work with or are in contact with people at increased risk for flu complications.
But then add. “As a recommendation, specialists and vaccination companies are asked to vaccinate mainly risk groups and their contact persons in the first phase of the vaccination period with the existing regular doses.”
According to Hulmann, if you haven’t been vaccinated in November, you don’t have to worry. A flu shot in December is enough because the flu wave in Switzerland doesn’t usually start until January or February. But: “Patience and understanding are required from those who are willing to vaccinate.” The BAG will communicate on this matter in early October.
