Coronavirus: these are the 5 most important points of the current PK

From vaccination groups to brass music: these are the 5 most important points of the Corona-PK

Bottom line: today’s press conference focused mainly on vaccines and a bit on the Swiss parliament.

Still relatively few people in Switzerland can be tested for the corona virus: “The pandemic situation is slowly improving, but the number of tests is modest,” says Virginie Masserey, director of the Infection Control Section at FOPH. Meanwhile, hospitals in Switzerland are still burdened.

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Therefore, the FOPH strategy focuses on the following three points:

• Reduce the death toll
• Maintain the health system
• Reduce social consequences

We have summarized for you in five points how federal experts want to achieve this goal, if the brass music in parliament has been irresponsible and when vaccines can be expected in this country.

Vaccination in January 2021

The number one topic of today’s press conference was the corona vaccine. Switzerland has contracts with three different vaccine suppliers. “We also keep in touch with other companies in the EU,” says Masserey. The vaccine should be delivered in stages in the first half of 2021.

Meanwhile, Swissmedics will be responsible for the approval. Claus Bolte, Head of the Approval Department, emphasizes: “Speed ​​does not come at the expense of care.” It is important to evaluate the data scientifically.

All the data submitted by the manufacturing companies were verified and evaluated. However, data on safety, efficacy, quality and subgroups are still lacking.

Who should vaccinate?

Vaccines are aimed primarily at the most vulnerable people, says Christoph Berger, chairman of the Federal Commission for Immunization Affairs (EKIF). These target groups receive a vaccination as a priority:

• Particularly at risk (for example, over 65s)
• Health workers
• Close contacts with particularly vulnerable people
• People in communal facilities at higher risk of infection and outbreak.

Once the aforementioned target groups have received the vaccine, it will also be available to the rest of the population, Berger says. The goal is not herd immunity, but to protect groups at risk. The focus is primarily on adults.

The army secures the vaccine warehouse

Switzerland bought freezers for the vaccines and warehouses were set up, says Daniel Aeschbach, chief of the army pharmacy. The army is responsible for protecting these camps.

Vaccines are not collected abroad. “The army will accompany the receipt and delivery of the vaccine,” says Aeschbach. Fine distribution within the cantons, as well as vaccination, would be the responsibility of the cantons.

Cantonal vaccination centers

Rudolf Hauri, president of the Cantonal Medical Association, explains: “The cantons are responsible for the distribution of vaccines and the authorization of vaccination.” Cantons should also create vaccination centers, independent or affiliated with hospitals.

It’s important to consider how a high vaccination rate can be achieved, Hauri says. In his opinion, people with health insurance should be able to use the vaccination for free.

Ruffel for Parliament

“It wasn’t a great idea,” replies Virginie Masserey when asked about the brass concert in Parliament. But according to Masserey, that would be the responsibility of the Swiss parliament.

It is difficult to express the risk of wind music in numbers, but singing and playing wind instruments carries a risk, since the aerosols get into the air. “That is why it is better to hold this type of event outdoors. In addition, rooms must be ventilated regularly. “

When asked if holidays can still be saved for the population, Masserey says: “The goal is to be able to celebrate Christmas in small groups.” But it would definitely be an unusual vacation.

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