Coronavirus vaccination
Table of contents
Recommendation
The official vaccination recommendation has been adapted and is valid from 03.04.2023 for the period spring/summer 2023.
No general recommendation for vaccination
In principle, no COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for spring/summer 2023 by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and the Federal Commission for Immunisation Issues (EKIF). The individual risk of infection and the burden on the health system are estimated to be low for spring and summer – due to the expected low virus circulation and high immunity in the population. For autumn 2023, the vaccination recommendation will be evaluated again and adjusted accordingly.
Recommendation for people at especially high risk, if medically indicated
In principle, it is also not currently recommended for people at especially high risk to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. They can, however, receive a vaccination following an individual consultation with their doctor. Vaccination may be wise in individual cases, as it improves protection against developing severe COVID-19 for several months. However, the last vaccination dose must have been at least 6 months ago.
People at especially high risk include:
Advantages:
- People aged 65 or over
Advantages:
- People aged 16 or over with a chronic condition
Advantages:
- People aged 16 or over with Down’s syndrome
Advantages:
- Pregnant women
Only in the event of a renewed SARS-CoV-2 wave would people at especially high risk, whose last vaccination dose was 6 months ago, be generally recommended for vaccination.
Vaccinations that are recommended because they are medically indicated remain free of charge.
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COVID-19 vaccination remains recommended for severely immunodeficient persons. The immunodeficiency can be congenital, acquired or caused by drugs that suppress the immune system (e.g. chemotherapy, after transplantation).
For severely immunodeficient persons aged 16 years and older who have already been vaccinated against COVID-19, the recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination is the same as for people at especially high risk (no earlier than 6 months after the last vaccination or known infection).
For severely immunodeficient persons who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, the recommendations described below apply:
- For basic immunisation, a 3-dose vaccination schedule with an mRNA vaccine, with a minimum interval of 28 days between each dose.
- Persons 12–29 years of age are preferentially recommended Comirnaty (bivalent or monovalent).
- Children 5–11 years of age with severe immunodeficiency are recommended to be vaccinated with Comirnaty (paediatric vaccine). Serology is recommended 4 weeks after the 2nd dose of vaccine. If clear positive SARS-CoV-2 vaccine antibodies are present, a 3rd vaccination dose is not necessary.
- Severely immunodeficient persons ≥ 12 years of age are recommended a booster vaccination (4th dose) with an mRNA vaccine after completion of the basic immunisation; the recommended minimum interval to the last vaccination dose is 6 months.
Pregnant women have a significantly increased risk of severe disease progression in the case of COVID-19 infection and therefore count as people at especially high risk. However, pregnant women are only recommended COVID-19 vaccination in spring/summer 2023 in individual cases. If the attending physician deems it medically indicated or if the epidemiological situation should require vaccination of people at especially high risk.
In any case, the last vaccination dose or known SARS-CoV-2 infection should be more than 6 months ago. Due to insufficient safety data, vaccination of pregnant women with the protein-based vaccine Nuvaxovid is currently not recommended. If a pregnant woman cannot be vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine for medical reasons, vaccination with nuvaxovid may be considered if the potential benefit clearly outweighs the risk after an individual benefit-risk assessment.
Vaccination is recommended from the second trimester of pregnancy onwards, as fetal organ formation is largely complete by then. Vaccination is also possible in the first trimester and can be given at the woman's request. Studies show that vaccination is also safe in the first trimester.
If pregnant women are vaccinated in a pharmacy, they must present a medical certificate (irrespective of the vaccine chosen).
Self-pay vaccination
In principle, no COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for spring/summer 2023. People who want to get vaccinated without a recommendation (e.g. for a trip) can get the vaccination but have to pay for it themselves.
At the earliest after 6 months
However, the vaccination should be administered no earlier than 6 months after the last COVID-19 vaccination or 6 months after known SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccination usually involves a single dose of vaccine and is preferably recommended with a bivalent mRNA vaccine or the protein-based vaccine Nuvaxovid. These vaccines, as well as the monovalent mRNA vaccines, are generally suitable and recommended to prevent severe infections. Vaccination can also be heterologous, i.e. with a vaccine other than the previous one.
New bivalent Moderna vaccine available from 5 April
From 05.04.2023 the bivalent mRNA vaccine Spikevax Bivalent Original/Omicron BA.4-5 from Moderna, which has been newly approved by Swissmedic, will be available at the vaccination centre EBPI in Zurich and can also be ordered by doctors' practices and pharmacies.
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For children and youths up to 16 years of age, the FOPH and the EKIF generally do not recommend vaccination in spring/summer 2023 (exception: severely immunodeficient children and adolescents). If COVID-19 vaccination is nevertheless necessary for non-medical reasons (e.g. travel-related), it is accessible against payment.
Children and youth up to 16 years of age are vaccinated in paediatric practices and at the vaccination centre EBPI in Zurich.
12- to 15-year-old adolescents must be accompanied for vaccination by a legal guardian or provide a consent form signed by the legal guardian.
Where to vaccinate
Anyone aged 16 and over can book an appointment at the University of Zurich's vaccination centre EBPI at Hirschengraben 84 via the cantonal vaccination tool VacMe or the vaccination hotline 0848 33 66 11. The vaccination centre also offers vaccinations without an appointment during opening hours.
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Advantages:
- Have your health insurance card ready.
- After completing the registration, you will receive a six-digit code. Keep this in a safe place. You will need it for booking appointments and as an admission ticket at the vaccination centre.
Registration instructions
Advantages:
- Select the vaccination location and book your vaccination appointments.
- To change or cancel a vaccination appointment, please log in to the cantonal vaccination tool again using your e-mail address or your chosen username.
- If you register by telephone via the vaccination hotline, you can only book an appointment by telephone.
Pharmacies
People aged 16 and over are also vaccinated in pharmacies. When booking an appointment on the cantonal vaccination tool VacMe, they can also be selected as a vaccination centre. Pharmacies in the canton of Zurich that offer vaccinations are marked with the note «COVID-19» and can be found under the following link.
Medical practices
Doctors' surgeries also offer vaccinations. Contact your family doctor directly about this.
What to bring to the vaccination appointment
You will need to present the following for being vaccinated:
Advantages:
- Six-digit code (printed out or as a QR code), provided you have registered in advance in the cantonal vaccination tool.
- Health insurance card
- Official identity card
- Vaccination card (optional)
- Allergy sufferers with a history of severe reactions: medical certificate
- Pregnant women: a doctor's prescription at pharmacies
- Unaccompanied 12- to 15-year-olds: declaration of consent from a legal representative
The personal details as well as the place of residence will be checked at the reception.
Vaccination hotline: 0848 33 66 11
Monday to Friday: 08.00–18.00
Costs within Switzerland max. 0.08 francs/minute (exception: public payphones).
Documentation of the vaccination
Proof of vaccination / Vaccination record
Your vaccinations are documented in the cantonal vaccination tool, and you can download the proof of vaccination there. If you wish, you can also obtain a printed proof of vaccination from the vaccination centre. This proof of vaccination lists the date and location of the vaccination, as well as information on the vaccine administered (trade name, manufacturer and batch number). If you have one, bring your vaccination record (»vaccine booklet”) with you to both vaccination appointments to have the COVID-19 vaccinations entered there as well.
The proof of vaccination/vaccination record is a medical certificate and not an official document.
AERZTEFON Medical hotline
+41 80 033 66 55 (around the clock)
COVID-19 vaccination infoline (FOPH)
+41 80 088 66 44 (every day from 6am - 11pm)
Further information
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