https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Whether or not you are a member of a coronavirus ‘risk group’, here’s how you ensure access to the coronavirus vaccine in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210105/covid-19-vaccine-in-switzerland-who-is-high-risk-and-how-can-i-ensure-i-get-the-jab Tue, 05 Jan 2021 18:45:13 +0100 covid-19-vaccine-in-switzerland-who-is-high-risk-and-how-can-i-ensure-i-get-the-jab As with almost everything in Switzerland, the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine differs from canton to canton. Do I have to get vaccinated in my home canton? https://www.thelocal.ch/20210126/reader-question-can-i-get-the-coronavirus-vaccine-in-another-swiss-canton Tue, 26 Jan 2021 16:24:07 +0100 reader-question-can-i-get-the-coronavirus-vaccine-in-another-swiss-canton Since the start of the vaccination campaign in December 2020, cantons have experienced delays. One of reasons may be the shortage of qualified foreign workers in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210426/how-switzerlands-strict-immigration-policy-might-have-contributed-to-slow-vaccination-rollout Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:01:02 +0200 how-switzerlands-strict-immigration-policy-might-have-contributed-to-slow-vaccination-rollout Americans who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be able to visit the EU this summer, president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has vowed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210426/vaccinated-americans-will-be-able-to-travel-to-europe-this-summer-says-eu-chief Mon, 26 Apr 2021 12:17:55 +0200 vaccinated-americans-will-be-able-to-travel-to-europe-this-summer-says-eu-chief As Switzerland is expecting the delivery of millions of vaccines in May, federal authorities have told cantons to dip into their "second dose" reserves to speed up the pace of inoculations. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210416/switzerland-tells-cantons-to-use-up-their-vaccine-reserves Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:08:12 +0200 switzerland-tells-cantons-to-use-up-their-vaccine-reserves There are big differences in the strategies and organisation used by countries around Europe to vaccinate their populations against Covid-19. Here's a run down that allows you to compare the vaccination policies in place in several European countries. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210415/compared-how-countries-around-europe-are-organising-their-covid-vaccine-rollouts Thu, 15 Apr 2021 19:03:25 +0200 compared-how-countries-around-europe-are-organising-their-covid-vaccine-rollouts Life in Switzerland usually slows down — and sometimes comes to a standstill— on Sundays and holidays. This sluggishness extends to vaccinations as well, putting in doubt the promises of health officials who vow to inoculate everyone who wants it by summer. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210413/explained-why-doesnt-switzerland-vaccinate-seven-days-a-week Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:06:27 +0200 explained-why-doesnt-switzerland-vaccinate-seven-days-a-week Swiss vaccination centres don’t give you a choice of the vaccine that is injected into your arm, unlike some other countries. There are reasons why this is the case. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210414/reader-question-why-cant-i-choose-which-covid-vaccine-i-get-in-switzerland Wed, 14 Apr 2021 14:35:35 +0200 reader-question-why-cant-i-choose-which-covid-vaccine-i-get-in-switzerland There is a lot of talk about potential risks associated with the coronavirus vaccine. But as the new data from Switzerland’s drug authorisation agency shows, serious side effects are very are. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210413/what-are-the-most-common-side-effects-of-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-switzerland Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:29:45 +0200 what-are-the-most-common-side-effects-of-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-switzerland The European Medicines Agency has come to the conclusion that the unusual blood clots suffered by numerous people around Europe should be considered as rare side effects of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, but that overall the benefits of the jab outweigh the risk. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210407/europes-medicines-regulator-finds-possible-link-between-astrazeneca-jab-and-blood-clots Wed, 07 Apr 2021 18:24:27 +0200 europes-medicines-regulator-finds-possible-link-between-astrazeneca-jab-and-blood-clots The EU's population of 450 million could achieve Covid-19 herd immunity by mid-July, the EU's vaccine chief Thierry Breton told French newspaper Le Parisien. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210405/eu-could-achieve-covid-19-immunity-by-mid-july-says-vaccine-chief Mon, 05 Apr 2021 13:38:48 +0200 eu-could-achieve-covid-19-immunity-by-mid-july-says-vaccine-chief Where does your canton stand in the race to vaccinate the population against coronavirus? https://www.thelocal.ch/20210126/maps-which-swiss-cantons-are-vaccinating-fastest-against-coronavirus Tue, 26 Jan 2021 17:17:24 +0100 maps-which-swiss-cantons-are-vaccinating-fastest-against-coronavirus The head of the European Commission vaccines task force, Thierry Breton, unveiled the first European "health passport" on Sunday, claiming he hopes Europe will have a summer season "comparable to last year". https://www.thelocal.ch/20210328/eu-vaccine-chief-hopes-for-tourism-boost-as-he-unveils-covid-19-passport Sun, 28 Mar 2021 17:35:17 +0200 eu-vaccine-chief-hopes-for-tourism-boost-as-he-unveils-covid-19-passport In many Swiss cantons, the general public can already register for the coronavirus vaccination. The appointments will be based on ‘first come, first served’ basis. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210305/first-come-first-served-how-to-get-the-vaccine-sooner-in-switzerland Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:45:00 +0100 first-come-first-served-how-to-get-the-vaccine-sooner-in-switzerland Johnson and Johnson have denied claims by Swiss public broadcaster SRF that the company's Janssen Vaccine would be available to private companies in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210323/explained-why-the-johnson-and-johnson-vaccine-will-only-be-available-privately-in-switzerland Tue, 23 Mar 2021 13:34:06 +0100 explained-why-the-johnson-and-johnson-vaccine-will-only-be-available-privately-in-switzerland The Swiss government promised everyone would be vaccinated by June - but several cantonal doctors are now saying the end of autumn is a more realistic date. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210217/unrealistic-is-switzerlands-vaccination-scheme-set-for-further-delays Wed, 17 Feb 2021 16:32:38 +0100 unrealistic-is-switzerlands-vaccination-scheme-set-for-further-delays Europeans may be able to travel more freely this summer with a proposed new vaccination passport. But the European Commission urges caution and calls for certificates to be free from 'discrimination'. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210313/eu-vaccine-passports-must-prevent-discrimination-european-commission Sat, 13 Mar 2021 13:38:35 +0100 eu-vaccine-passports-must-prevent-discrimination-european-commission Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Latvia have called for a EU summit to discuss "huge disparities" in the distribution of vaccines, according to a letter published Saturday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210313/covid-19-astrazeneca-announces-vaccine-delays-to-eu Sat, 13 Mar 2021 12:12:02 +0100 covid-19-astrazeneca-announces-vaccine-delays-to-eu Switzerland’s population is about 8.6 million, but the government has signed agreements with several manufacturers to buy over 35 million doses. Why so many? https://www.thelocal.ch/20210204/why-has-switzerland-ordered-over-30-million-doses-of-coronavirus-vaccine Thu, 04 Feb 2021 14:31:14 +0100 why-has-switzerland-ordered-over-30-million-doses-of-coronavirus-vaccine Switzerland has doubled its order for Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine from three to six million doses. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210310/switzerland-doubles-pfizer-biontech-coronavirus-vaccine-order Wed, 10 Mar 2021 15:10:34 +0100 switzerland-doubles-pfizer-biontech-coronavirus-vaccine-order