'Vaccine Uptake at 65%' Switzerland Approves Pfizer Booster Shot for Ages 16 and Up

Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority Swissmedic Reveals

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] As COVID-19 cases rise again in Europe, Switzerland on the 23rd (local time) approved the COVID-19 vaccine booster shot developed by the U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer for those aged 16 and older.

The Swissmedic, the pharmaceutical regulatory authority, added that for high-risk groups, this vaccine can be administered as an additional dose starting from age 12. However, Swissmedic stated that the booster shot must be given at least six months after the first and second primary doses.

Switzerland had approved the COVID-19 vaccine booster shots last month for the elderly aged 65 and older and high-risk groups. As of the 21st, Switzerland’s COVID-19 vaccination completion rate is about 65%, which is relatively low compared to surrounding Western European countries.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases exceeds 10% of the total population. According to the real-time statistics site Worldometer, as of the 22nd, Switzerland, with a total population of about 8.7 million, has 951,479 cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases and 11,423 cumulative deaths.

Protests against vaccination refusal are intense across Europe, including Switzerland. In Zurich, the Swiss capital, a protest against the government’s COVID-19 restrictions was held with 2,000 participants. They protested the government regulation requiring proof of vaccination when entering restaurants and other venues.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.