Switzerland is lagging behind in vaccination plan: now comes the fourth vaccine

Switzerland is lagging behind in vaccination plan: now comes the fourth vaccine

Switzerland and vaccination: not working as expected. First, the Federal Council urged the cantons to vaccinate faster, then there were bottlenecks in delivery. Is the goal of protecting everyone who wants to get vaccinated by the end of June at risk?

In an interview with NZZ am Sonntag, Health Minister Alain Berset stated that vaccination is a good position. It’s annoying that there are currently delivery bottlenecks, but the goal of being able to vaccinate everyone by the end of June is still achievable. Berset notes that the AstraZeneca vaccine could be approved soon.

In the short term, the goal of vaccinating everyone over 75 by the end of February will be missed: “By the end of February we will probably not get as far as we hoped,” says Berset.

However, it is not decisive for the success of the campaign “if we vaccinate the first ten percent of citizens at the end of January or the end of February. It is important that we be quick in the second trimester, when the large quantities of vaccines arrive, ”continues Berset.

BAG is negotiating a fourth vaccine

In the meantime, there is good news about a fourth vaccine: We are talking about Johnson & Johnson. Your vaccine advantage: it is easier, faster and cheaper to manufacture than the competition. Also, only one dose of vaccine is required for protection.

Switzerland could now be one of the first countries to have access to it. The BAG keeps a low profile, but the Johnson & Johnson Switzerland spokesperson told the Sunday newspaper: “I can confirm that negotiations are under way with the BAG.”

On Friday, the drug company released a mid-term evaluation of its phase III study; the results will determine whether the vaccine will be approved by regulatory authorities. However, the group confidently reported that 1 billion cans would be produced and shipped from March through the end of the year.

Swissmedic does not yet have all the necessary data for the authorization test. But spokesman Lukas Jaggi told the Sunday newspaper: “If we receive this quickly and in good quality, we can decide very quickly due to the renewal procedure.” If things go as fast as the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine, the vaccine could be approved in early March.

Berset dampens expectations

The current measures apply until the end of February. Berset told “NZZ am Sonntag” if they would relax then or if it would be too early to speculate. Although the number of cases with the old virus variant is decreasing, the proportion of new mutations is doubling every week. Berset: “We remain in an unstable and dangerous situation.”

Berset also pointed to countries whose number of cases continues to rise despite tough measures. “That shows that we have to proceed carefully. And we have to make sure that the balance between the newer variants of the virus and the facilitation of the steps, on the one hand, and the progressive immunization of the population with vaccines, on the other, remains balanced. “

When asked about growing frustration among the population, Berset said: “Whining doesn’t make things better. I once said that this pandemic is a marathon that we have to face. Now it turns out that it’s more of a triathlon. “You have to divide the forces and continue to support each other.

Willingness to vaccinate increases in Switzerland

The willingness to get vaccinated against the corona virus has risen to a new record, according to a report by “SonntagsBlick.” The newspaper cites a representative survey by the University of Zurich on the Covid-Norms monitoring project.

Scientists have been taking the pulse of the population every week since September 2020. In the third week of January, when asked about the probability of getting vaccinated if the coronavirus vaccine was available, about 55 percent answered ” very probable “or” probable “.

There was more than ever. In mid-December it was only 41 percent. However, 28 percent of those surveyed still did not want to get vaccinated against the corona virus. However, one in sixth remains undecided. (Yes W)