SHARE
COPY LINK

HEALTH

Switzerland promises coronavirus vaccine will be free and voluntary

The Swiss government announced on Wednesday that the coronavirus vaccine would be free in Switzerland, while also promising that the vaccination scheme would not be compulsory.

Switzerland promises coronavirus vaccine will be free and voluntary
A statue representing a child receiving a injection of vaccine is seen at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

On Wednesday, the Federal Department of Home Affairs (EDI) made an amendment to the Health Care Service Ordinance (KLV). 

The amendment ensured that vaccination for the coronavirus would be free in Switzerland. 

According to the change, the costs for the vaccination scheme will be covered by compulsory insurance providers, along with the federal and cantonal governments. 

 

 

The announcement was made on December 9th and will come into force on January 1st, 2021. 

In a statement, the government promised that the vaccination would be free – and voluntary. 

READ: Why the Swiss are banking on a more cautious approach to Covid-19 vaccine 

 

“The Covid-19 vaccine is an important element in fighting the pandemic. The vaccination strategy chosen by the federal government depends on the characteristics and availability of each vaccine,” the statement read.  

“The primary objective of the strategy is to prevent severe disease progression in particularly vulnerable groups, to ensure the continued existence of the health system and to minimise the negative social and economic consequences. 

The first vaccinations are to take place in the first half of 2021 as soon as Swissmedic has received approval. The Federal Council will not require a compulsory vaccination.”

Scheme to cost ‘approximately half a billion francs’

The statement also estimated the cost of the scheme as at least half a billion francs, while providing for who would foot the bill for what. 

“The health insurers cover the costs of the medical consultation and the vaccine, while the federal government bears the costs of transporting and distributing the vaccine to the cantons,” the statement read. 

READ: Will residents in Switzerland be allowed to go to Germany for Covid-19 vaccination? 

“The federal government will also assume the costs that exceed five francs per vaccine dose. The effective prices of future vaccines are not yet known.

“The cantons bear the logistical costs in their area and the deductible. 

“The costs borne by the health insurers are estimated at around 200 to 250 million francs, those for the federal government at at least the same amount.”

 

Member comments

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

HEALTH

The essential Swiss websites you need to use for health matters

If you just moved to Switzerland (or even if you have lived here for a while), your learning curve about health-related matters in the country may be steep. These sites will help you find the information you need.

The essential Swiss websites you need to use for health matters

Staying healthy is probably one of your top priorities, but doing so in a foreign country is not easy.

That is why having some reliable resources that you can check out and follow will be helpful.

First: The Local

No, we are not doctors, but we have published a number of factual articles over the years about many aspects of healthcare in Switzerland that our readers find helpful.

You can find a compilation of these health-related stories here

Federal Office of Public Health 

Obviously, when it comes to matters of health, the Health Ministry has lots of information that will be relevant to you at one time or another.

Aside from matters of health policy (which is important for all residents of Switzerland), the site also has a regularly updated Infectious Diseases Dashboard to let you know what communicable illnesses are currently circulating in Switzerland — and how to avoid them.

It also provides age-specific health information and recommendations — for instance, for children and teenagers, as well as for the elderly.

Hospital websites

Individual hospitals in your area are good sources of information as well, and many of them are in English.

You can find there general health information, care and treatment options, online emergency room signup, new medical technologies being used, and other patient resources:

Geneva University Hospitals (HUG)

Vaud University Hospital (CHUV)

Zurich University Hospital

Basel University Hospital 

If you live in an area without a university medical centre, your local hospital is also a valuable source of health-related information.

Appointment booking platform

This website is especially useful for people who don’t yet have a doctor in Switzerland but need to set an appointment with one. 

It gives you an option of choosing a specialty and location, and then displays doctor’s names and addresses, background information about them, and which time slots they have available.

You can easily set up an appointment this way.

Your health insurer’s website

This may not be an intuitive choice for impartial information about healthcare but you may be surprised.

For instance, Sanitas insurance site has information about emergency care decisions, and how to void unnecessary medical treatments.

CSS has health information geared specifically to men and women.

Helsana talks about ways to combat stress and sleep problems.

These are just a few examples on what valuable tips you can find on your insurer’s website.

Websites devoted to specific medical conditions

If you seek information about a specific illness — such as treatment options in Switzerland — there are plenty of online resources for that as well.

For instance:

Heart and cardiovascular 

Diabetes 

Osteoporosis 

Mental illness 

General pain 

Other diseases 

Last but not least, while not related to health, these websites will also provide useful information for international residents:

The Swiss websites that can help you save money
 
The most useful website resources to help you get Swiss citizenship 
 
 

SHOW COMMENTS