Information about coronavirus

Yes, the vaccine is safe and the data collected continues to be reviewed.

In an extraordinary situation such as a pandemic, a vaccine is still required to pass the usual tests despite the urgency of the circumstances. Having said that, the testing process can be speeded up quite considerably: Swissmedic is conducting a “rolling approval” process for the pandemic. Rolling, because vaccine manufacturers' data is submitted on an ongoing basis and reviewed immediately by Swissmedic. But there are no compromises when it comes to safety – the test criteria remain unchanged.

The authorities in your canton will tell you where you can get vaccinated – for example on the canton’s website. You may be able to receive your Covid-19 vaccine at the following locations in your canton, for example:

• at specific vaccination centres
• at hospitals
• from your family doctor
• at vaccination pharmacies

The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are approved in Switzerland from the age of 12. Covid-19 vaccination with an mRNA vaccine approved in Switzerland is now recommended for all women before and during pregnancy (from 12 weeks of pregnancy) and for those who are breastfeeding. People who can confirm they have been infected with coronavirus by means of a PCR test or a rapid antigen test are recommended to get vaccinated within three months of infection.

Vaccination reduces the risk of contracting coronavirus and passing it on – allowing you to protect yourself and those at particular risk in your family, household or working environment. The more people who have been vaccinated, the less the virus circulates in society and fewer people become ill or die as a result of coronavirus.

The COVID-19 vaccination is free of charge for all people with mandatory health insurance in Switzerland.

The cantons pay patients’ deductibles and co-finance logistics, organisation and infrastructure together with the federal government. Compulsory health insurance covers the costs of administering the vaccine and contributes CHF 5 per dose. Should the vaccine prove more expensive, the federal government will pay the difference.

From 15 March 2021, the federal government will now cover all costs of rapid tests. This means you can get tested free of charge even if you have no coronavirus symptoms.

The rule will continue to apply regarding coverage of the costs of PCR tests, and depends on why you are getting tested:

• The costs of PCR tests will be covered if you are getting tested e.g. because you have symptoms, because you received a notification from the SwissCovid app, or because you were ordered to by an authority or doctor.
• The costs of PCR tests will not be covered e.g. if you require a negative test result to travel. If the costs of a test are not covered by the federal government, we would advise you to find out how much the test will cost in advance.

You find more information in the fact sheet Coronavirus – coverage of cost of the analyses and associated care (in German).

The federal government pays the costs …

• for SARS-coronavirus-2 tests
• for antibody tests
• for immunological antigen tests (rapid tests)
• and for the associated services (flat rate for taking samples).

Service providers – e.g. laboratories, hospitals and general practitioners – send invoices directly to the health insurance companies, which check the invoices and handle the administration.

If, in exceptional cases, you receive an invoice, please forward this to the health insurance company with which you have your basic insurance, e.g. Sympany:

Sympany
Peter Merian-Weg 4
4002 Basel

Or submit the invoice via mySympany.

The costs of treatment by doctors or in hospitals (general ward) – e.g. investigations, diagnosis, medical care – are paid for by the basic insurance, less the excess and deductible.

Doctor and patient should jointly decide the appropriate treatment in the case in question. The doctor is obliged to inform the patient about the entire factual and legal situation (treatment options, costs and compensation by the health insurance company).