Switzerland Launches New Vaccination Campaign
17th October 2021
Last modified on October 19th, 2021
61% of the population are fully vaccinated with a significant number of people declining a vaccine. It has the lowest take up of the main skiing nations with some worries growing for winter.
A vaccination campaign aimed at young people has been launched on social media.
Most new infections have been recorded among those people aged 10 to 19-years old.
The government is also investing CHF150 million (£118m) to try to convince those who have concerns about the vaccine.
In early November there will be a ‘vaccination week’ across the country with 170 new vaccination buses out on the streets.
There will be 1,700 advisors on hand to speak with those who have questions and concerns.
Switzerland will currently not be using booster jabs ahead of winter.
Switzerland has 74 confirmed cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people over a 7-day period.
It is 143 in Austria, 44 in France and 30 in Italy.
The UK has one of the highest number of cases in Europe at 396.
The rise in the number of cases is slowing down and the Swiss Health Minister, Alain Berset, has described the situation on as “encouraging” but “fragile”.
He warned of a potential burden of the health system as the winter approaches.
Related Stories:
- Switzerland tightens restrictions as Covid-19 cases continue to rise
- Hospitals in Switzerland could be over-run within weeks
- Covid cases continue to rise sharply in Switzerland
Zermatt, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Currently anyone over 16 entering Switzerland who has not been vaccinated against or recovered from the virus must provide a negative Covid test result.
Then they need another negative test 4-7 days after entry into the country.
A Covid-19 certificate is needed to go into restaurants, bars and museums.
Protests by groups opposed to the Covid certificate and the government’s pandemic policy have been regular.
Sections of society are opposed to vaccines and restrictions claiming they infringe on civil liberties.
In November, Switzerland will vote on an initiative that challenges the government’s power to impose restrictions on the nation.
Last June an attempt to veto the government’s Covid-19 policy was rejected by voters.
More than 10,700 people have died in connection with Covid-19 in Switzerland, which has a population of 8.6 million.
Last winter it controversially kept its ski resorts open.
At the end of last season PlanetSKI reporter, Mark Urban, travelled to Switzerland to report on the situation and look back on the Swiss decision.
Mark Urban, PlanetSKI, Switzerland
Here on PlanetSKI we will shortly be posting a detailed report on the rules and regulations for winter.
We have already turned out attentions to Austria and will be looking at all the main alpine nations ahead of winter:
Number One for Ski News Image © PlanetSKI
