The COVID-19 vaccination rate in Switzerland has passed 60 percent, after a push from politicians and cantonal governments to vaccinate the population before the Christmas holidays.

COVID-19 vaccine push in Switzerland after new COVID restrictions

Around 24.000 people were vaccinated against COVID every day last week in Switzerland, a significant increase on previous months. The vaccination rate is expected to increase by 1 percent every week, as supplies in GP practices, hospitals and vaccination sites remain plentiful.

Since the start of the vaccination campaign, 10,7 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Over five million people are now fully vaccinated. In recent months, the vaccination rate had “stalled” from June 2021 to the new rise in September. 

Switzerland records fewer cases of coronavirus

The rise is attributed by Swiss media to the new certificate requirements in Switzerland and the reduction in free testing. Alongside the rise in vaccinations, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported that confirmed COVID-19 cases had dropped below 1.200 a day for the first time since August 2021. 

In recent weeks, President of the Federal Vaccination Commission, Christoph Berger, hinted that Switzerland was starting to consider booster shots for vaccinated people, but clarified that there wasn’t enough evidence to move forward with the plan yet. Despite the rise in vaccination rates, Switzerland still lags behind other European countries like Denmark, Italy, France, and the UK.