Switzerland is unlikely to get through all the vaccines it’s ordered, but the Federal Health Office says there’s no danger of doses having to be destroyed because of the expiry dates.
20 million doses from Moderna and Pfizer were ordered for this year, and half has been delivered. The stores, run by either the army or the cantons, are full.
The stocks of Pfizer will expire at the end of November and the Moderna stocks not till next year.
The government says under the contracts it’s signed, it can delay the delivery of the next batch.
For everything to be used, the vaccination rate will have to pick up. It’s been slowing in recent weeks.
The government is not yet saying that any unused vaccines will be donated for use in poorer countries.
But it’s already giving Astra-Zeneca vaccines to the United Nations for distribution as it hasn’t been authorized for use in this country.