The latest figures published by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) show that 1.18% of Switzerland’s population has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 since vaccinations began on 21 December 2020.
The percentages varies by canton. The canton of Nidwalden, where 4.65% of the population have received a full course of vaccine, leads the way. The canton where the least progress has been made is St. Gallen (0.36%). Basel-City (3.53%), Geneva (1.34%), Vaud (1.12%) and Zurich (0.6%) all lie somewhere in between.
The number of Covid-19 shots administered per 100 people is more encouraging. Across Switzerland, the average is 6.27, a number that ranges from 4.90 (Bern) to 11.43 (Nidwalden).
On this measure Switzerland (6.27 per 100) is ahead of the EU (5.2) and world (2.4) averages, but well behind the US (17.0), the UK (24.3) and Israel (79.5), the global leader – see data below.
Switzerland’s ratio (64%) of doses administered (542,196) to those delivered (847,900) suggests there might be a bottle neck administering the vaccine, although it is not clear.
Some hoped vaccination programmes might allow nations to relatively quickly put the Covid-19 pandemic behind them. However, expectations are now having to be lowered. In an email, Simon Baptist, an economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit, writes that their view is that most developed countries will not reach a point where 60-70% of the population is vaccinated until mid-2022.
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Lynx says
If the vaccinations were at the same speed as in the UK, 100% of the Swiss would have been fully vaccinated by now.
Otto says
The UK chose to give their population only one dose, with an extended waiting period of 12 weeks, if supplies are available.
The Astra Zenica vaccine has so far proven to be less effective than Pfizer and Moderna and the testing regime was deemed not statistically significant by the EU in the older population because of a lack of numbers in this older age group.
Marie says
The AZ vaccine should be effective enough at a population level to effectively constrain the epidemic; a major outcome goal of any vaccination policy. A year ago we would have been glad to welcome this vaccine if it were the only one proved to be useful. AZ are working on a “tweaked” vaccine to address the new variants. Once developed, this can be administered as a booster (for example in the Autumn of 2020 in the UK). The UK policy of prioritising first dose to the most vulnerable 9 sections of society is based on the fact that a high degree of expected immunity is achieved after the first dose; for all vaccines tested. The second part of the primary vaccination course helps with longevity of the protection, and is planned in the UK. There is good evidence for effectiveness of a delayed 2nd dose administration with at least the AZ vaccine.
This is a pandemic with a previously unknown virus. Perhaps sticking rigidly to the rule book will slow recovery more than intelligent clinical judgement made by a country’s regulatory approval body. Probably particularly important in such a densely populated nation such as the UK. But only time will tell.
Joe says
Maybe not quite as good at preventing infection … but very good at preventing significant illness.
If it relegates Covid to a cold – isn’t that enough?
Otto says
Who knows if it will be enough. Its interesting tthat no other Country has chosen to delay the second dose to this extent and the medical community do not agree with this strategy, I guess time will tell.
As a retired physician I would rather wait and go with the medical recommendation rather than a political decision
Otto says
There has been much hype about the UK vaccine rollout success but the UK has chosen to give only one dose with a 12 week gap before the second dose. If available.
The Astra Zenica vaccine that they are mostly using has not been tested sufficiently on older age groups .