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Was this the beginning of the end of the crown pandemic in Switzerland? The day before Christmas Eve, a 90-year-old Lucerne woman received the country’s first vaccine, a glimmer of hope on the way back to normalcy.
However, one thing in particular could be disturbing: the skepticism of the Swiss. To stop the virus sustainably, a vaccination rate of at least 70 percent is required. However, so far, according to a survey by the University of Zurich, only 50 percent are willing to receive an injection against Covid-19.
With the support of the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), the Institute for Communication Science and Media Research has been monitoring vaccination readiness since September together with the Public Center and Society. Every week, researchers take the pulse of the population and ask the same question each time: “If a coronavirus vaccine were available today: How likely would you be to get vaccinated?”
The results have long been sobering. Until two weeks ago, less than half of those surveyed answered “very likely” or “likely.” Most remained undecided or skeptical.
However, the latest results indicate a change in trend. In the week of December 21-27, the days after the vaccine was approved by Swissmedic’s pharmaceutical authority, the proportion of people willing to vaccinate rose from 41 to a record 50 percent. It is the steepest increase since the polls began.
So do people gain confidence in the corona vaccine? Communication scientist Thomas Friemel, co-director of the “Covid Norms” monitoring project, is sure. However, it is still too early to really speak of a turnaround: “The willingness to vaccinate has increased. But now we have to see if this development continues or if it was just a short-term outlier. “
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Every third person does not want
In addition to the 50 percent of those who are willing to get vaccinated, there are still a considerable number of skeptics about vaccines. Almost one in three respondents does not want to be vaccinated at this time. 20 percent are still undecided.
The difference between the sexes is striking. While about 56 percent of men are open to vaccination, only 43 percent of women.
Age also plays a central role in assessing vaccination protection. Almost 60 percent of those over 50 are willing to get vaccinated, and only about 40 percent of those aged 15 to 49.
The fact that older people, members of the generations most at risk of developing severe disease, mostly react positively to vaccination was also demonstrated when vaccination began. In several cantons, mobile teams have begun to immunize residents of healthcare centers in recent days. Acceptance of vaccination was high everywhere.
For example, in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, where more than 200 people received the injection last week. Roman Häring, spokesman for the crisis team: “In nursing homes and for the elderly, we can register a very high proportion of people who want to get vaccinated.” Up to 90 percent of the elderly would have accepted the voluntary offer.
Lucerne is also making progress. David Dürr, Head of the Health and Sports Service, announced: “The Department of Health and Social plans that all residents and employees of nursing homes and nursing homes who wish to be vaccinated will receive the first dose in mid-January. “The second dose of the vaccine should follow at the end of February.
Big rush in Zurich
According to Dürr, 80 to 90 percent of the home’s residents have been vaccinated so far. The only disappointment: with the employees it is only “a good half”. There was also a real test of the vaccine in Zurich. On Wednesday, the canton activated a website through which people over 75 and people at risk could register for vaccination. Appointments were booked in minutes. After a while, the login page crashed.
In the evening, the health department wrote in a press release that the website had more than 100,000 visits in the first hour after it was activated. The doctor’s phone, which also processes records, received about 60,000 calls an hour.
Most cantons will not start vaccinating until next week. Then the capabilities will be expanded step by step. Philippe Luchsinger (63), president of the Association of Family Physicians and Pediatricians, is satisfied with the way things have gone so far. The beginning was “very Swiss cautious”. “A serious and correct start was made, beneficial without any gimmicks.” In his opinion, vaccination should continue in this way.
Demand for the vaccine is great, says Luchsinger. “We receive many consultations from patients older than 75 years, but also from younger people, with and without previous illnesses.” Peter Burri Follath (50) from Pro Senectute Switzerland made similar observations. Before the start of vaccination, the elderly were still divided into two camps. “Some of them did not want to be guinea pigs under any circumstances, the others were eager to be vaccinated.” Since the beginning of vaccination, however, the positive attitude has prevailed.
The next few months will also be about convincing as many previous critics as possible to get vaccinated. But how? According to experts, the deciding factor is the feeling of having been fully informed about the advantages and disadvantages.
The top priorities for successful vaccination communication are clear: education and transparency.
