Vaccinate against flu and Covid-19
The coming winter months also herald the arrival of seasonal flu. It is not always harmless. A flu vaccination is therefore recommended for people with an increased risk of complications and their close contacts. More coronavirus infections are also expected in the colder months of the year. They can cause severe courses of illness in people at increased risk. It is therefore recommended that these people are vaccinated against both the flu and Covid-19. Both vaccinations offer good protection against serious illness.
Vaccination against influenza is also recommended this year for people at increased risk of complications from the age of six months. This includes people with chronic illnesses such as respiratory or heart disease, pregnant women, premature babies and all people aged 65 and over.
The flu vaccination is also recommended for anyone who comes into close contact with people with an increased risk of complications, either professionally or privately. The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and the Federal Commission for Vaccination Questions (FCVC) therefore particularly recommend vaccination for people in the same household, medical and nursing staff as well as employees of daycare centers, daycare centers and retirement and nursing homes. This also includes the relatives of babies under six months of age. The latter have an increased risk of complications but cannot be vaccinated themselves. People who have regular contact with poultry or wild birds are also recommended to be vaccinated against influenza. This is to prevent a person from becoming infected with an animal flu virus and a human flu virus at the same time.
National flu vaccination day in doctors' surgeries and pharmacies
The best time to get vaccinated against the flu is from mid-October until the start of the flu epidemic, which is usually expected between mid-December and mid-March. On National Flu Vaccination Day, interested people can get vaccinated at many doctors' surgeries and pharmacies throughout Switzerland, even without making an appointment.
National Flu Vaccination Day will take place this year on Friday, November 8, 2024. It is an initiative of the College of General Practitioners (KHM) in collaboration with the Swiss Medical Association (FMH), the Swiss Pharmacists' Association (pharmaSuisse) and the FOPH.
Vaccination against Covid-19
The Covid-19 vaccination protects against severe courses of Covid-19 disease. It is therefore recommended for people who have an increased risk of a severe course of the disease. This includes all people aged 65 and over, people aged 16 and over with one or more pre-existing conditions or trisomy 21 and pregnant women. Vaccination against Covid-19 is not recommended for all other people, as there is hardly any risk of severe disease in people without risk factors. The Covid-19 vaccination offers little protection against infection or mild disease. However, the vaccination can reduce the risk of post-Covid-19 disease. Ideally, the vaccination should be given from mid-October to December.
The FOPH recommends that people at increased risk are vaccinated against both influenza and Covid-19. The two vaccinations can be administered one after the other at any interval or at the same time.
Assumption of costs
If a vaccination is recommended and is carried out in a hospital or by a doctor, the compulsory health insurance covers the costs - subject to the deductible and excess.
People without a vaccination recommendation can also be vaccinated after individual consideration and decision. They and all persons who are vaccinated in a vaccination pharmacy pay for the vaccination themselves.
Source: BAG
