Authorities Recommend Covid-19 Vaccination for High-Risk Individuals
Published: Monday, Sep 11th 2023, 10:40
Updated At: Friday, Oct 13th 2023, 14:12
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The Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) and the Swiss Commission for Vaccination (EKIF) recommend that people at high risk of contracting the coronavirus should get vaccinated in the autumn. The situation has changed since the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, and those under 65 years old without any health risks have a very low risk of developing a severe illness. For these people, there is no vaccination recommendation, but they can get vaccinated if they wish to pay for it. Those at high risk, however, are more likely to develop a severe illness and should therefore get vaccinated in the autumn. Ideally, the vaccination should take place between mid-October and December, using a single dose of an mRNA vaccine adapted to the XBB.1.5 variant. This includes people over 65, those over 16 with pre-existing conditions or Down Syndrome, and pregnant women with pre-existing conditions. Other pregnant women should get vaccinated if their healthcare provider recommends it. The current circulating coronaviruses have new mutations that allow them to bypass acquired immunity, and the protection from vaccination or infection decreases the longer it has been since the infection. The adapted mRNA vaccine should be effective against the new variants. BAG and the Vaccination Commission expect that the infection rates will increase in the autumn and winter due to these two factors and increased contact in indoor spaces.nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
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