Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, has authorized the use of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine from US pharma giant Pfizer and German biotech company BioNTech.

The Swiss pharma regulator said that as per the data it has assessed, the level of protection afforded seven days following the second dose of the mRNA vaccine is more than 90%. Swissmedic said that its decision represents the world’s first authorization in the ordinary procedure.

Switzerland has now joined the UK, Bahrain, Canada, and most recently the US, in approving the Pfizer, BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

Raimund Bruhin – Swissmedic Director said: “The safety of patients is an essential prerequisite, especially where the authorization of vaccines is concerned.

“Thanks to the rolling procedure and our flexibly organised teams, we nevertheless managed to reach a decision quickly – while also fully satisfying the three most important requirements of safety, efficacy and quality.”

Switzerland is ranked 31 in the most affected countries by Covid-19 having registered over 400,000 cases and more than 6,600 deaths till 20 December 2020, as per Worldometer.

According to Swissmedic, the BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine can be given to anyone aged 16 years and older to give protection against the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), subject to compliance with the Swiss government’s official vaccination recommendations.

The Swiss pharma regulator said that intramuscular injections of the BNT162b2 vaccine, spaced at least 21 days apart, are recommended for optimum protection against the prevailing novel coronavirus.

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