Switzerland COVID-19 Employer Resources

The level of COVID-19 infections remains high. The first vaccination was administered on December 23. The Swiss government has imposed another raft of national measures to curb the spread of the virus. When the pandemic first struck, the government evoked emergency powers to centralise decision making, but it gave powers back to the cantons in the summer. Since then the country has been steering “the special Swiss way”, a middle course between shutting the economy and stemming the pandemic, without a full lockdown. Measures vary from region to region as the 26 cantons have autonomy on health matters. On December 11, Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga said the federal government was “taking back control” in view of the “exponential increase” in cases.

COVID-19 vaccine considerations for Switzerland

  • Can employers mandate the vaccine?
    No
  • Who will control delivery of the vaccine?
    Federal government
  • Who covers the cost of the vaccine?
    Public health service
  • Where will people get vaccinated?
    General practitioner’s office or pharmacy
  • Is there cultural resistance to getting the vaccine?
    No

Switzerland concluded three contracts with vaccine producers: Pfizer/Biontech over 3m. vaccines; AstraZeneca up to 5.3 m. vaccines and Moderna over 7.5m. vaccines. The vaccines of Pfizer/Biontech got approved by Swissmedic (Authority to approve medicine in Switzerland) and the vaccine started in Switzerland in December. The responsibility for the delivery of the vaccinations are the cantons in Switzerland.

 

More Information

Swiss Federal Office of Public Health

More news and statistics about Switzerland and COVID-19

This information is provided by Weibel, Hess & Partner, Asinta's partner in Switzerland.

Employee Benefits in Switzerland

Get insights on mandatory and common supplementary employee benefits in Switzerland.

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Top 6 Vaccine Considerations

Use our decision matrix to help support your employees.

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Page last modified: January 14, 2021

The information presented on this site is current as of the date initially posted; and, because matters related to COVID-19, the vaccine, and compliance measures are changing so quickly, it may not be current as of the date you read it. While the information gathered here is from Asinta global partners who are subject matter experts in their respective fields, this information is not meant to be a substitute for individual legal or medical advice, or as a substitute for advice in your specific situation.

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