Posted by Dr Michelle Wright
Welcome to this week’s Health Matters – Dr Michelle Wright with you as usual.
What are the latest vaccination recommendations?
I feel like I haven’t spoken about COVID for a while but as the winter virus season is almost upon us, I thought it would be a good time to discuss the Federal Office of Public Health’s COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for Autumn-Winter 2024/2025.
Who should get vaccinated?
These latest recommendations are tailored specifically to protect those who are most vulnerable during the colder months. Which means that vaccination is primarily recommended for individuals at higher risk of developing severe illness. This includes:
- People aged 65 and over.
- Those aged 16 and over with pre-existing medical conditions.
- People aged 16 and over with trisomy 21.
- As well as pregnant women.
These groups are more likely to experience complications from COVID-19, and their immunity against the virus tends to wane faster than others. If you fall into one of these categories, getting vaccinated will improve your protection for several months, helping you avoid severe illness and complications.
For everyone else under 65, without pre-existing conditions, there’s no strong recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination this season. The good news is, most people in Switzerland have already come into contact with the coronavirus by now, meaning their immune system has had time to respond and build up some defenses. The current coronavirus variants also tend to cause mild cases of the illness for those without risk factors.
However, even if you aren’t in a high-risk group, you can still choose to get vaccinated. It’s a personal choice. The vaccine will offer moderate, short-term protection against mild COVID-19. But for most people under 65, the risk of severe illness remains low.
What about healthcare professionals and caregivers?
The recommendation remains the same for them as well: there’s no requirement to get vaccinated unless they prefer to reduce their personal risk of catching COVID-19. If they choose to do so, they can still opt for the vaccine.
When is the best time to get vaccinated and what vaccine should you choose?
The best time to get vaccinated is between mid-October and mid-December giving you optimal protection through the winter season. You can receive the COVID-19 vaccine anytime after six months have passed since your last dose or since recovering from a COVID infection.
And another good thing to know: the COVID-19 vaccine can be administered alongside other inactivated vaccines, such as the flu. So, if you’re due for both, you don’t have to worry about timing them separately.
When it comes to which vaccine to choose, authorities recommend an mRNA vaccine that has been updated to match the current circulating variants. It doesn’t matter which vaccine you’ve had in the past – this updated version will be most effective.
What about costs?
In terms of costs, if you’re in one of the recommended groups, the cost of vaccination is covered by your compulsory health insurance, although you’ll still be subject to the usual deductibles.
For those not in a high-risk group but still wishing to get vaccinated, you can absolutely do so – just be prepared to cover the costs yourself.
So, there you have it – the breakdown of the COVID-19 vaccination guidelines for autumn and winter 2024. If you’re in one of the high-risk groups, consider booking your vaccination appointment now for the best protection. And as always, if you’re unsure or have any questions, reach out to your doctor.
