Questions about Covid 19 vaccination? Please find answers to the most important questions below.

Furthermore, more detailed information can be found on the website of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). 

Current questions and answers

To whom is vaccination recommended?

The booster vaccination is recommended in particular for vulnerable people*, but in principle for all persons from the age of 16. The recommendation varies in strength depending on the population group:

Strong: vulnerable people*
Medium: health personnel, caregivers of vulnerable people
Low: all other persons (16-64 years)

*Vulnerable people are:

  • Persons aged 65 and over
  • Persons aged 16 and over with a chronic disease
  • Persons aged 16 and over with trisomy 21
  • Pregnant women

Why should I get vaccinated?

  • In most cases, an infection with SARS-CoV-2 is mild and without complications. However, certain groups of people have a significantly increased risk of a severe course of the disease with complications such as hospitalisations and deaths.
  • Vaccination leads to a strong reduction in severe courses and deaths and to a decrease in hospitalisations.
  • Vaccination can protect against post-COVID-19 (long-covid) disease by preventing severe infection.
  • Over 97% of the Swiss population over 5 years of age now have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (through vaccination and/or infection). Protection decreases over time, especially in those at particular risk. Vaccination can at least temporarily increase protection against severe illness and its complications in these persons.
  • Vaccination can also be useful for people who, after individual consideration, want to reduce their risk of disease to a certain extent for private and/or professional reasons.
  • The mRNA vaccines and the protein vaccine Nuvaxovid have shown a very good efficacy and safety profile in studies. Vaccination is safer than infection and its potentially severe consequences.

When should I get a booster shot?

The booster vaccination in fall 2022 should be administered at the earliest four months after the last Covid-19 vaccination dose or four months after having undergone SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is not determinative for fall and winter 2022 which booster vaccine is numerically involved. For example, for persons who have received a second booster vaccination, the third booster vaccination is recommended at the earliest after four months.

What do I have to consider if I also get vaccinated against the flu?

Other vaccinations with inactivated vaccines (such as the flu shot) can be given at the same time as, before or after a Covid 19 vaccination.

When and where can I get vaccinated?

The authorities in your canton can tell you when and where you can get vaccinated. 

(daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

What does the vaccination cost?

All vaccinations that comply with the recommendations of the FOPH and EKIF are free of charge for the vaccinated.

Who shouldn't get vaccinated?

The following people should not be vaccinated with the approved Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines: People with a severe confirmed allergy to any component of the vaccine (especially PEG in the mRNA vaccines).

No booster vaccination is recommended for children and adolescents under 16 years of age in the fall of 2022 (exception: adolescents 12 years of age and older with severe immunodeficiency).

If you are not allowed to receive mRNA vaccines for medical reasons, you can at best be vaccinated with the Janssen vector vaccine in consultation with your doctor. There are very few situations in which Covid 19 vaccination is not possible. In these cases, a doctor can issue a certificate confirming that (full) vaccination is not possible for medical reasons.

Should I get vaccinated when I am pregnant?

As a pregnant woman, you are one of the people at particular risk. That is why the Covid-19 vaccination is recommended before or during pregnancy. This is because the risk of severe courses of Covid-19 is higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant people of the same age. In addition, infection can increase the risk of premature birth. The booster vaccination before or during pregnancy protects you and the unborn child.

Pregnant and breastfeeding persons should be vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine (not the protein vaccine from Novavax).

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and have questions about vaccination, talk to your doctor or midwife.

What applies to previously unvaccinated persons?

Unvaccinated persons aged 16 years and older without risk factors are recommended to receive Covid 19 vaccination in autumn 2022. Due to the very high general immunity of the Swiss population, a single vaccination dose is recommended (this vaccination schedule corresponds to that already recommended to persons after a confirmed infection).

Previously unvaccinated persons at particular risk are still recommended two vaccine doses at intervals of four weeks, since in this group of persons, in addition to the increased risk of severe courses, the development of a good immune response is often reduced.

Unvaccinated children and adolescents aged 5-15 years without chronic diseases are generally not recommended to be vaccinated, those with chronic diseases are recommended a single vaccination dose.