For those stuck in a long wait for the vaccine.... head to Alaska!

Fromt the 20Minuten:
https://www.20min.ch/story/alaska-wi...n-716781133815

Alaska has plenty of vaccine supply, and desperately wants tourists back. So to lure travelers, the airports at Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan will offer free vaccination from 1 June - to anyone.

I had registered on SZ app as a care provider for an at-risk person like few months back. I was told that is category 5 (of 7). Got an SMS yesterday advising me of my 2 appointments at Lachen on 1-May & 29-May. So yes something is happening.

I am going next week to the US and have an appointment for a vaccine on Friday. (probably Pfizer)

I'll just need to figure out a way to get the second dose......

Is it possible to have the first dose in the US where vaccines are easily available and then have the second dose (only) in Switzerland when your number comes up? I was wondering about consolidating the documentation between the CDC card and the Swiss System.

If someone has already had covid, they should bring in documentation and then only take one dose of the vaccination; then they add the info to your Swiss vaccination record: https://www.zh.ch/de/gesundheit/coro...tml#2135101869

Presumably it would be the same if you have a dose abroad? I am trying to figure this one out myself.

Might be tough. As far as I know, you don‘t get to choose the type of vaccine here.

The wife may object to that so Alaska first.

Maldive wants to attract tourists by offering a jab first, but only after all eligible Maldivians have been vaccinated (they're currently at 50%).
The'll call this program "the 3V : visit, vaccinate and vacation".

On the Italian news channels a few days ago they suggested that Serbia is doing something similar.


Sign up online, choose which brand of vaccine you want, and fly in to be vaccinated...

Seems like a good plan to increase tourism, and get people vaccinated...

But you have to stay for 3-4 weeks and get both jabs? 4 weeks in the Maldives will cost a pretty penny!

The term "medical tourism" has been given new dimensions!

J+J would be a solution or 2 separate holidays, ideal with AZ when the gap can be from 4-12 weeks.

Looks like Schwyz is starting to step up:

The vaccine will now be available at 50 GP practices and Apotheke. The list of those offering it is here:
https://www.sz.ch/public/upload/asse..._apotheken.pdf

Are Switzerland managing this rollout correctly? This morning I received a text message with an invite for my Covid vaccination next week. I'm not so old yet and don't qualify for any of the reasons to move further up the priority list. I registered reasonably early, but have the feeling there's probably many who need the vaccine before I do for example, my neighbour's parents live in Nidwalden, are close to 80 and still haven't been vaccinated or had an invite.

I think it could be managed better. The big problem, I think is that each Kanton is responsible for their own distribution and small Kt like NW might not have the economies of scale that make it easier. On the other hand, you might as well get the vax, because you‘re at risk too....

I'll take it, but I have a bad conscience that there are people in greater need who have not yet been invited for one. Just anecdotally, some of the stories I've heard, from older people in Switzerland.

"I didn't know I even had to register, I assumed my Hausarzt would call me when it's my turn for a vaccine"
"I haven't registered yet, because I don't think they're up to my age group yet"
"I tried to register but the website kept reporting an error" (I ended up registering this man myself)

All anectodical, but I do now have real concerns that the vaccine isn't getting to those who need it most. Has there not been some sort of massive advertising campaign? Or maybe as you say it's because the Kanton's are in charge?

The Numbers speak for themselves really. Hopefully the Hausarzts will sort out the problem when vaccine gets to them.

Interesting. I have exactly the opposite feeling.

All I hear about is vaccination ... on tv, on the radio, in the newspaper, on the cantonal website.

It's confusing as each Canton decides how to approach vaccination: some let you enter your details in a sort of waiting list and will call if a spot comes up. Other cantons do not have waiting lists and you will receive an email stating that your registration has been removed as you are not eligible.
Other cantons simply remove your name from the list if you are not eligible.

This is the biggest problem in my opinion.
Some cantons seem better organised than others.
I guess Neuchâtel is a medium sized canton and I’ve been very impressed by how well they’ve handled the whole vaccination programme.

I am happy that each Canton decides for itself.

If it was up to the Swiss government, then the Swiss german part would be vaccinated much faster than the rest of the contry

Looking at canton Vaud 66% of the +75 have been vaccinated.
The number was stuck on 65% for several weeks and is only very slowly increasing.
Dont know if its because refusal to be vaccinated or other reasons such as lack of information, problems registering, etc.

https://monitoring.unisante.ch/d/krL...d=4&refresh=5m

Canton Vaud has been open for +50 (without any restrictions) for about 2 weeks now.