Switzerland cancels thousands of vaccination appointments after Moderna delivery delay
US vaccine company Moderna has informed Switzerland of upcoming delivery delays, forcing tens of thousands of appointments to be cancelled.
Moderna this week told Swiss authorities that it would be unable to deliver the promised 200,000 vaccine doses by the start of May.
READ MORE: Swiss health experts recommend delaying second dose to speed up vaccination campaign
The news has thrown Switzerland’s cantonal rollout into disarray, with vaccination centres and doctors planning under the assumption that the doses would be received.
Authorities have now begun the process of cancelling vaccination appointments in several cantons.
According to Swiss news outlet NZZ, this has put into significant doubt Switzerland’s promise that all adults who wanted the vaccine would receive it by the end of June.
The impact could be particularly significant given that cantons have been encouraged to use up their existing vaccine supply in anticipation that more would be arriving soon.
Some cantons had already started vaccinating on Sundays, despite earlier indications that appointments would only be possible six days a week.
READ MORE: Switzerland tells cantons to use up their vaccine reserves
Lucerne health director Guido Graf told the NZZ the delivery failure has undercut the canton’s ability to plan.
“We cantons must have reliable planning data. Immediately. Ultimately, the population loses confidence not only in the canton, but also in the federal government. And that mustn't happen.” He said.
The doses will now arrive in June.
Moderna will not face consequences for the delivery failure, NZZ reports, as vaccination companies are only obligated to deliver the promised vaccines within allocated quarterly periods.
This means that no penalty will be due, provided the vaccine arrives by the end of June.
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Moderna this week told Swiss authorities that it would be unable to deliver the promised 200,000 vaccine doses by the start of May.
READ MORE: Swiss health experts recommend delaying second dose to speed up vaccination campaign
The news has thrown Switzerland’s cantonal rollout into disarray, with vaccination centres and doctors planning under the assumption that the doses would be received.
Authorities have now begun the process of cancelling vaccination appointments in several cantons.
According to Swiss news outlet NZZ, this has put into significant doubt Switzerland’s promise that all adults who wanted the vaccine would receive it by the end of June.
The impact could be particularly significant given that cantons have been encouraged to use up their existing vaccine supply in anticipation that more would be arriving soon.
Some cantons had already started vaccinating on Sundays, despite earlier indications that appointments would only be possible six days a week.
READ MORE: Switzerland tells cantons to use up their vaccine reserves
Lucerne health director Guido Graf told the NZZ the delivery failure has undercut the canton’s ability to plan.
“We cantons must have reliable planning data. Immediately. Ultimately, the population loses confidence not only in the canton, but also in the federal government. And that mustn't happen.” He said.
The doses will now arrive in June.
Moderna will not face consequences for the delivery failure, NZZ reports, as vaccination companies are only obligated to deliver the promised vaccines within allocated quarterly periods.
This means that no penalty will be due, provided the vaccine arrives by the end of June.
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