SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

HEALTH

EXPLAINED: How to get vaccinated in your Swiss canton

Whether or not you are a member of a coronavirus ‘risk group’, here’s how you ensure access to the coronavirus vaccine in Switzerland.

EXPLAINED: How to get vaccinated in your Swiss canton
A nurse draws a dose of vaccine from a syringe. How can you get the coronavirus vaccination in your Swiss canton? Photo: Richard Juilliart / AFP

According to the Swiss government’s vaccination plan, risk groups and essential workers will be vaccinated on a priority basis.

Switzerland has promised that “everyone who wants a coronavirus vaccination will be able to get one” by summer.

While risk groups are first in line, who exactly is in a risk group in Switzerland? And how do members of risk groups – or anyone else – get access to the vaccine? 

EXPLAINED: Everything you need to know about Switzerland’s Covid-19 vaccination rollout

In order to ensure everyone gets vaccinated, authorities have set up registration sites in every Swiss canton. 

Here’s what you need to know. 

How has Switzerland’s vaccination plan been rolled out?

On December 23rd, a 90-year-old woman in the canton of Lucerne was the first person to be vaccinated in Switzerland.

As reported by The Local Switzerland, Lucerne and Appenzell Innerrhoden were the first Swiss cantons to start vaccinations. 

While widespread vaccinations of risk groups started in January, a handful of cantons already began in December. 

READ: When will coronavirus vaccinations start in your Swiss canton? 

Who will be vaccinated first in Switzerland?

According to the official government announcement, groups at risk would be vaccinated first. 

The Swiss government has laid out a plan for vaccinating everyone in risk groups aged 16 and over. 

Four ‘Target Groups’ have been identified, who will be vaccinated in order of priority. These are laid out at the bottom of this article. 

When will the vaccine be available in your canton? Photo: Fred TANNEAU / AFP

How can I make sure I get the vaccine? 

In order to get the vaccine, in the most cases you will need to register. 

While some people in high risk groups or who live in nursing homes will be contacted, for the vast majority of Swiss residents, it is up to them to register. 

‘First come, first served’: How to get the vaccine sooner in Switzerland

Vaccinations are handled by the respective cantons. 

This means that you will need to register with cantonal authorities. 

The contact details and links to registration for each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons are provided at this link

I am over 65 and/or have a chronic condition. How do I get vaccinated? 

The Federal Office of Public Health recommends that you discuss the matter with your doctor as soon as possible, if you have not done so already. 

This will ensure that you are given priority access to the vaccine. 

READ MORE: Has Switzerland’s Covid vaccine rollout become a ‘fiasco’? 

In addition, you can reach out to your cantonal health authorities. 

Each canton has set up a registration scheme to ensure access to vaccinations. While in most cantons this is targeted at the broader public, those in risk groups can also sign up. 

Details on how to register in each canton are provided at the following link

I am not in a risk group but would like to get the vaccine. How do I get vaccinated? 

While those in risk groups will have their vaccination prioritised by their doctor, or in other cases through their nursing home or hospital carer, people who are not in risk groups are encouraged to sign up via their cantonal health authorities. 

This can be done by visiting the following link

Please note some cantons have not yet set up their registration scheme for the general public, although each canton will have a date at which you can start the registration process. 

In a press conference on January 5th, the Federal Office of Public Health said that everyone who wanted to be vaccinated would be vaccinated by the end of summer 2021, although there have been some indications that this will be delayed. 

How do I register in my Swiss canton?

You can register in your Swiss canton by visiting the following link

The Local have also mapped out the process in some of the country’s most populous cantons to make it easier. 

See the following links for more information. 

READ MORE: Here’s how to register for the coronavirus vaccine in Zurich

READ MORE: How to get the coronavirus vaccine in Bern

READ MORE: How to get the coronavirus vaccine in Geneva

READ MORE: How to get the coronavirus vaccine in Basel

READ MORE: How to get the coronavirus vaccine in Vaud

What are the Target Groups?

Target Group 1: People at particular risk (excluding pregnant women) 

Given that there are shortages expected during the early stage of the vaccination plan, those in Target Group 1 have also been organised according to priority. 

Those ages 75 or over, or those who suffer from chronic diseases – regardless of age – will be given first priority. 

After that, people aged 65 and over will be given priority. 

Target Group 2: Health workers who come into contact with patients / carers for people who are particularly at risk 

Target group 2 includes health workers and carers who are in regular contact with high-risk patients, and those who take care of ‘vulnerable’ people — for instance, employees of elderly care homes.

Target Group 3: Close contacts (household members, caring relatives) of particularly vulnerable people 

Next will be people living in the same household as at-risk individuals, or people who take care of and visit high-risk individuals regularly. 

Target Group 4: People in communal facilities with an increased risk of infection and outbreak (e.g. homes for the disabled).

The fourth group will consist of those residing or working in community institutions that present a heightened risk of infection or potential for an outbreak, like institutions for people with disabilities.

There is no ‘Target Group 5’. After the four target groups have been vaccinated, the vaccinations will continue for the general public. 

More information on the target groups is laid out by Swiss health authorities at the following link

Why is the vaccination only available to those aged 16 years and over? 

As at January 2021, the Swiss government has only laid out plans to vaccinate adults. 

According to official government advice “the vaccination of children is not yet planned. The relevant study data for these age groups are currently missing.”

READ MORE: When will Switzerland start vaccinating children?

It is important to note that this was laid out before the new British coronavirus mutation was detected, which may have a greater propensity to infect younger people. 

More information will be provided on the vaccination of children as soon as it is available. 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

HEALTH

How you can save money on healthcare in Switzerland

Between insurance premiums and over-priced drugs and other costs, healthcare in Switzerland comes at a steep price. Clare O'Dea looks at why the costs are so high and some of the ways you can save money.

How you can save money on healthcare in Switzerland

On the surface, the Swiss healthcare provision model looks egalitarian. All residents are obliged by law to purchase the same basic package of insurance, and the premiums are subsidised for those on low incomes. So why is cost such a bone of contention?

The problem is that the healthcare itself is very expensive, the second most expensive system in the world after the United States. And most of the cost is shouldered by households one way or another. This hurts those on low to middle incomes the most.

Between health insurance premiums, out-of-pocket expenses and over-priced drugs, households are spending a significant chunk of their income on health. Amazingly, Swiss residents fund 59 per cent of the national expenditure on health, according to the Federal Office for Public Health figures for 2020. The rest comes from state coffers, and, to a small extent, from employers.

To bring it down to an individual level, Swiss residents shell out 478 francs per person per month on health costs. Compulsory health insurance premiums account for 252 francs of that total on average. The rest goes on supplementary (top-up) health insurance premiums (42 francs), co-payment on policies plus out-of-pocket expenses (174 francs) and ‘other funding’ (10).

Politicians across the spectrum seem to be incapable of doing anything to curb health inflation. The latest is that health insurance premiums are set to increase by 8.7 per cent in 2024. That’s not a projection but a fact, as announced by the health minister in September.

KEY POINTS: What you need to know about Switzerland’s health insurance price hikes

Public purse

The worst thing would be to miss out on your entitlements. To find out if you qualify for premium subsidies, you’ll have to go through your home canton. Each canton has its own reduction rates and rules on eligibility. In some, there are systems in place to identify and notify eligible people but in others, you have to check and apply yourself.

This possibility is definitely worth looking into if you think you might be eligible – around a quarter of the population qualify for these payments. In some cantons, the proportion of recipients is higher. Moneyland.ch has put together a list of the contact information for premium reductions in each canton.

Take the initiative

Generally speaking, to save money on healthcare costs, the insured have to take the initiative themselves. New arrivals to Switzerland are required to take out a policy within three months, and should definitely shop around. Pricing comparison websites such as moneyland.ch , comparis.ch and Priminfo (in the national languages only) help to cut through the noise and find the best deal for your individual circumstances.

Age and location are important criteria. There are infinite tiny pricing variations between the 40+ non-profit insurers (known as “Krankenkasse”, “caisse maladie” or “cassa malati”), which means you may even find a better deal by buying policies from different insurers for different members of the family.

For those who already have a policy, it makes sense to do an annual price check up when the following year’s rates are announced in the autumn. Chopping and changing, which everyone has a right to do once a year, can really pay off.

The window for changing providers has just closed but you can be ready to notify your current provider by November 30th next year. Handily, the comparison websites also provide template letters for cancelling a policy.

READ ALSO: Which Swiss health insurance providers have the lowest rates in 2024?

Different models

Even if you decide to stay with the same insurer, you can obviously change the type of policy to a cheaper version. The so-called standard model is the most expensive. Under this arrangement, you decide which doctor you’d like to see, including specialists, and make appointments when you feel the need. 

There are other cheaper managed care models which are designed to cut down on unnecessary visits to the doctor. With these, you have to have a telemedicine consultation or visit a pharmacy before you get the green light to make an appointment with a doctor. There is another model where you have to see your general practitioner to get a referral to a specialist.

Calculations

The best way to save overall is to get clever with your deductible. That’s the share of medical expenses that you have to pay from your own pocket in the space of the year before your insurer starts reimbursing. The lower the deductible, the higher the premium.

Making the right choice involves a certain risk. But it is at least possible to make an educated guess based on past experience. There are several bands between 300 and 2,500 francs per year for deductibles (the amounts are lower for children).

If you tend not to need medical care and think your health costs are likely to be low in the coming year, it would make sense to go for the maximum deductible, which can translate into a saving up around 40 per cent on premiums. If you have reason to believe your bills will add up to 2,000 francs or more, then you’re better off going for the minimum deductible.

Don’t double up

That’s all speaking about the mandatory insurance package, which includes illness, accident and maternity care. But make sure you really need that accident insurance. Anyone who is employed for more than 8 hours per week is covered by their employer’s accident insurance, in which case it should be removed from their personal policy.

If you are looking to save money on health insurance, chances are you won’t be looking for additional insurance, also known as supplementary insurance. These policies give you more freedom over choice of hospital, and also cover therapies and treatments that are not included in the basic mandatory package. You can have both policies from the same provider or mix and match.

Though it can be irritating to hear this, especially if you already have a health condition, there is one final way that you can save on health costs – don’t get sick. What this advice really means is to lead a healthy lifestyle by taking exercise, eating a balanced diet, not consuming too much alcohol and cutting out smoking. Those are things we have control over, unlike genetics and luck.

SHOW COMMENTS