December 19, 2020
GENEVA, Switzerland
Swiss regulators said Saturday they have authorized the vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech for COVID-19, the world’s first approval for ordinary and not emergency usage.
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health said vaccinations will be distributed free of charge and are set to start in a few days for vulnerable groups and will expand on Jan. 4.
The vaccine has already been approved for emergency use in Britain, Canada, and the US.
“The safety of patients is an essential prerequisite, especially where the authorization of vaccines is concerned,” Swissmedic director Raimund Bruhin, who heads the government regulator, said in a press release.
Live COVID-19 updates: Canadian cases expected to surpass 500,000 in one day china.org.cn - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from china.org.cn Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
COVID-19: Switzerland can start vaccinating vulnerable groups already in December Federal Office of Public Health Bern, 19.12.2020 - On 19 December 2020 Swissmedic, the Swiss agency for the authorisation and supervision of therapeutic products, approved the first COVID-19 vaccination for the Swiss market. The vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech is suitable for adults from age 16. The first doses of vaccine will be delivered to Switzerland in the next few days, stored by the Armed Forces Pharmacy, and then distributed to the cantons. After that the cantons will be able to start vaccinating vulnerable groups in targeted and supervised settings. From 4 January 2021 the vaccination of vulnerable groups and other priority groups will begin all over Switzerland.
4,478 new COVID-19 cases reported in Switzerland, Liechtenstein china.org.cn - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from china.org.cn Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
2020-12-18 14:35:40 GMT2020-12-18 22:35:40(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
GENEVA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) Switzerland and Liechtenstein on Friday reported 4,478 new COVID-19 cases in the previous day, bringing their combined tally to 403,989, according to data published by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health.
There were 120 more deaths from the virus, and the total death toll stands at 6,003 as of Friday afternoon, the office said.
The Federal Council of Switzerland has carried out new restrictions since Dec. 12 to curb the increasing COVID-19 infections ahead of Christmas. Enditem
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