The use of the Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech laboratories has been authorized in Switzerland, the national health regulatory authority Swissmedic announced on Saturday.
“After a careful review of the available information, Swissmedic has concluded that Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine is safe and that its benefits outweigh the risks,” it said in a statement. It is the first time that a vaccine against the coronavirus has been authorized in the Alpine country.
“We were able to take this decision quickly, while ensuring that the three essential conditions were met: safety, efficacy and quality,” said Swissmedic director Raimund Bruhin.
4,000 new infections per day
Switzerland, which has 8.6 million inhabitants, has secured access to 15.8 million doses, negotiated with 3 different laboratories: 3 million with Pfizer-BioNTech, 7.5 million with Moderna and 5, 3 million with AstraZeneca. Two doses per patient are required for all three vaccines.
The Swiss federal government announced new measures on Friday in an attempt to stem a Covid-19 epidemic which continues to progress in part of the country. Switzerland records more than 4,000 new infections and more than 100 deaths every day. In total, the country has recorded 400,000 cases and 6,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Closures for health reasons
Restrictions were introduced from December 22 to January 22: restaurants and cultural establishments will have to close their doors. Sports establishments must close their doors, but there will be exceptions: professional team matches can be held in the absence of spectators. Cultural venues will also be closed, but cultural activities organized in small groups remain possible.
The stores, on the other hand, will be able to remain open, but by limiting the capacities, specified the President of the Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga. These measures are below what the scientific council recommended.
Ski resorts can remain open, but will have to introduce the same restrictive measures for restaurants and shops, in addition to devices to ensure that skiers do not crowd to access the ski lifts. The decision to close or not will be up to each canton.
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