At the end of the year, Switzerland will receive a vaccine against monkey pox. As the Federal Office of Health (BAG) announced on Friday, the federal government has signed a contract with the company Bavarian Nordic. 40,000 doses of vaccine to stop the spread of monkeypox.
The first cans will arrive in early November, the rest by the end of the year. An additional 60,000 cans were purchased for the military, expected to arrive in 2023.
Used preventively
According to the BAG, the vaccination should be used in people with an increased risk: “Preventive for men who have sex with men and transgenders with varying sexual partners. Preventive for people exposed to monkeypox viruses for professional reasons and contacts of sick people.»
The cantons are responsible for vaccination. The cost of the vaccine is provisionally borne by the federal government until the conditions are met for compulsory health insurance (OKP) to cover the costs.
“A relief”
At the Roze Kruis, the organization for gay and bisexual men, the news brings joy. “I am very relieved that we will soon be able to protect ourselves against the monkeypox infection. Contrary to what was initially claimed, the disease is not harmless at all,” said Roman Heggli, general manager of Pink Cross. For this, Roze Kruis demands that it be investigated why the purchase of the vaccines took so long. (lazy)