Coronavirus: Swiss federal government secures supply of vaccines for 2023

Bern, 11.03.2022 - At its 11 March 2022 meeting, the Federal Council approved the procurement plan for COVID-19 vaccines for 2023. The main goal is to ensure the supply for members of the public under all pandemic scenarios. Seven million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech and seven million doses of Moderna vaccine will be procured for 2023, with options for an additional seven million doses of each. The Federal Council has also decided to provide the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) with a further ten million francs in funding. The Federal Council is applying to Parliament for a supplementary credit for the procurement of COVID-19 drugs.

For 2023, in addition to the seven million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine already purchased, the Federal Council has decided to also procure seven million doses from Moderna. At the same time, Switzerland has options – to be exercised only if needed – to procure a further seven million vaccine doses from each provider. In addition to this, a maximum of one million doses will be acquired from another vaccine manufacturer as an alternative to the mRNA vaccines. The Federal Council’s strategy minimises the risk of a vaccine shortage in 2023.

Under the terms of the relevant contracts, Switzerland always has access to the latest available vaccine variants from the respective manufacturer (subject to the relevant authorisation by Swissmedic). Surplus vaccine, procured but not required in Switzerland, is to be sold on or transferred, as has been done in the past. This ensures the efficient management of vaccines.

Vaccines reliably prevent a severe course of disease and reduce the overload on healthcare structures. They are an effective means of managing the pandemic. Concrete vaccination recommendations will be determined based on the epidemiological situation in each case.

Support for research

Switzerland has granted a further ten million francs in funding to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI). In the current pandemic, the CEPI has proven to be a leading organisation in the research and development of vaccines against pandemics and epidemics. Already in April 2020, the federal government provided the CEPI with ten million francs in funding.

COVID-19 drugs for 2022 and 2023

In addition, the Federal Council is applying to Parliament for a supplementary credit to procure further COVID-19 drugs. It is currently assumed that drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 patients will again be required in autumn and winter 2022/23. The goal is to secure sufficient COVID-19 drugs, especially for patients at risk. The drugs are being procured by the Armed Forces Pharmacy, part of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), in cooperation with the Federal Office of Public Health.


Address for enquiries

Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, Communications, media@bag.admin.ch


Publisher

The Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html

Federal Office of Public Health
http://www.bag.admin.ch

https://www.admin.ch/content/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-87570.html