DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Swiss news & articles
Switzerland gives vaccine queue spot to developing nations
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Switzerland gives vaccine queue spot to developing nations

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Passenger Locator Forms: Travellers face fines at Swiss customsPassenger Locator Forms: Travellers face fines at Swiss customs
Switzerland faces record budget deficit due to COVID-19Switzerland faces record budget deficit due to COVID-19
Most people in Switzerland trust science despite heated debatesMost people in Switzerland trust science despite heated debates
People in Switzerland hesitant to return to gyms after COVID pandemicPeople in Switzerland hesitant to return to gyms after COVID pandemic
Industrial association warns supply issues could soon hit SwitzerlandIndustrial association warns supply issues could soon hit Switzerland
Novavax apply for COVID-19 vaccine approval in SwitzerlandNovavax apply for COVID-19 vaccine approval in Switzerland
COVID litter: Swiss politicians sound the alarm over excess wasteCOVID litter: Swiss politicians sound the alarm over excess waste
Switzerland cuts quarantine period for vaccinated individualsSwitzerland cuts quarantine period for vaccinated individuals
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Dec 2, 2021
Emily Proctor
Former Editor at IamExpat Media.Read more

Switzerland has become the first country in the world to give up its COVID-19 vaccine delivery slot, in favour of the global equitable vaccine access scheme, COVAX. 

Switzerland to get one million vaccine doses in February 2022

The announcement, which was made on November 24, will give the scheme one million doses of the Moderna vaccine by the end of December 2021, enough to vaccinate 500.000 people. In return, Switzerland will take COVAX’s slot next February, giving the Swiss healthcare system access to one million Moderna vaccines early next year. 

The news comes amidst rising concerns about the newly uncovered B.1.1.529 variant of COVID-19, now known as Omicron, and how vaccine inequity may create more of these mutations in the future. In southern Africa, where the new variant was first detected, rates of vaccination are significantly lower than in Europe and North America. 

In South Africa, for example, the percentage of people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is 24,1 percent, with a similar story for neighbouring countries such as Botswana (20 percent), Namibia (11,6 percent) and Eswatini (20,5 percent). For Switzerland, the vaccination rate is comparatively higher, at around 65,7 percent, demonstrating the need for more equitable distribution of vaccines across the world. 

Wealthy countries like Switzerland blamed for vaccine inequity

Even though Switzerland has slightly lower vaccination rates and a smaller population than other European countries such as France and Germany, the country has still been criticised alongside other wealthy nations for buying up huge quantities of vaccines, rather than assisting low-income countries in their mission to vaccinate. 

COVAX was therefore created to ask wealthy nations to donate funds to help other countries buy vaccines. While more than 180 countries have joined the scheme, anyone can donate to the fund. Some of the largest donations have come from private organisations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and even companies like Mastercard. 

It is hoped that through these donations, and through the example that Switzerland has now set by giving up their place in the delivery queue, other low-income countries can begin to receive more doses of COVID-19 vaccinations sooner.

By Emily Proctor