Those who refuse to get vaccinated may be responsible for further waves of infections and pressure on the health services.
That’s a warning from the Federal Health Office and several epidemiologists.
The health office sent a letter to cantonal governments warning the unvaccinated could trigger new outbreaks as restrictions are lifted.
This view is backed by other experts – Manuel Battegay, an infectious disease specialist in Basel told the NZZ newspaper yesterday says there will be new outbreaks amongst the unvaccinated when the current programme ends.
A poll by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation says vaccine scepticism is high, with one in five saying they will refuse the jab – especially in the 35 to 64 age group.
But those who refuse could find life more complicated in the future. A former director of the Federal Health Office, Andreas Faller, suggests those who have been vaccinated get a vaccine ‘passport’ which will allow them to take a plane, go to a concert or a sporting event. Those who haven’t will need to show a negative test beforehand, each and every time.
A major storm yesterday afternoon around Biel in canton Bern seriously injured one person, caused thousands of francs of damage, felled trees, and led to the cancellation of an outdoor music festival.
Only a few days after the train operator Eurostar announced it had plans to run a service from London to Geneva, a group of experts are already pouring cold water on the idea.
School locker rooms need a design overhaul to take into account new fears of surreptitious photography, heightened self-awareness, gender diversity, as well as physical differences and disabilities.