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Every day, around 20,000 people in Switzerland reach out to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. To reach the vaccination target of 5.25 million people by the end of June, it should be at least 90,000 a day starting in April.
The problem: Deliveries of Moderna and Biontech / Pfizer’s coveted vaccines are stalling. That is why it would be a great relief if Switzerland received the Johnson & Johnson crown vaccine. It has had Swiss approval since Monday. However, the federal government did not place an order on time, even though it had been clear for a long time that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was one of the best and fastest.
That means: The only way Switzerland will get more vaccines soon is through Astrazeneca. Because even if Moderna and Biontech / Pfizer can deliver the promised 6.5 million doses in April, May and June, there are still more than two million doses to go before everyone who wants to get vaccinated will get their swords by the end of June.
Those two million must come from the 5.3 million cans ordered by Astrazeneca. For the Novavax and Curevac vaccines that have also been ordered and are still pending approval, the federal government does not expect the first deliveries until late June or July.
A large clinical study shows: AstraZeneca vaccine with high effectiveness(01:04)
Back and forth with study data
The British-Swedish Astrazeneca vaccine has already been injected millions of times in England, France, South America and Africa. The United States and Switzerland, however, require more data for approval. An interim analysis on Monday showed a 79 percent effectiveness and overruled fears of an increased risk of thrombosis.
But yesterday an American health authority again cast doubts. Astrazeneca emphasized that the final results will be shipped within 48 hours. The director of Astrazeneca Switzerland, Katrien De Vos (38), is convinced: “Our vaccine can have a real impact on the pandemic.” Swissmedic should receive the details of the long-awaited authorization decision in the next few days.
All hopes rest on Astrazeneca. Switzerland has secured vaccines for 20 percent of the population through the international Covax initiative. But in the first round of distribution, poor countries take priority.
No free market economy
And Johnson & Johnson? Can at least the cantons or individuals get the vaccine approved? No, says spokesman Thomas Moser. “We can only deliver to states and international organizations like the Covax Initiative.”
The fact that the free market economy is suspended for corona vaccines also has to do with the billions in money that countries like the US supported vaccine development.
However, private companies also officially receive corona vaccines. Countries like Pakistan, Mexico and the Philippines are selling their doses of corona vaccine to companies because their health systems are not efficient enough. In the Emirates, individuals source and do a lot of business with wealthy people who want to get vaccinated.
In India, individuals can get vaccinated against Astrazenaca directly. The Indian Serum Institute is producing 1 billion doses of Astrazeneca vaccines under license this year, more than double what the Valais-based Lonza is producing worldwide for Moderna this year.
Posted: Mar 24 2021, 12:58 am
Last updated: 24.03.2021, 2 minutes ago
