Last but not least: Measles limitation campaign meets with resistance

The Federal Office of Public Health FOPH wants to eliminate the virus with a large-scale campaign. The aim is for schools and nurseries throughout Switzerland to check vaccination certificates and send unvaccinated children home for up to 21 days as soon as a child falls ill. This is according to the NZZ am Sonntag. Parents should also be able to have their children vaccinated free of charge and not have to pay a co-payment.  

A prevention campaign has already been planned for this action (Werbewoche.ch reported). Last week, the Federal Office of Public Health awarded a contract worth 3 million Swiss francs to a Zurich advertising agency.

According to NZZ am Sonntag, the cantons are now to contribute a further CHF 3 million. They should either transfer the money directly to the federal government or use it to launch their own campaign against measles. The plans have already been approved by the Board of Directors of Public Health.

However, this demand has not gone down well with some cantons. As Geneva has been making efforts to eliminate measles for years, it is now demanding to pay less extra. It is also the responsibility of the federal government to conduct national prevention campaigns. According to NZZ am Sonntag, the cantons in German-speaking Switzerland are also not prepared to contribute more. The canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden is fundamentally questioning the federal campaign. Martin Würmli, Departmental Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Affairs, says: "We doubt that the cost/benefit ratio is reasonable". For cultural reasons, the people of Innerrhoden are less likely to be vaccinated and go to the doctor less often, says Würmli. "Even if the federal government is determined to achieve the goals of the World Health Organization, there is little chance that the campaign will bring about a lasting change in vaccination behaviour here." Although the canton of Schwyz supports the federal government's goals, it does not entirely agree with the campaign. According to the NZZ am Sonntag, Svend Capol, cantonal doctor in Schwyz, says: "Local color must be taken into account in the implementation. In Schwyz, we want to convey the information cautiously, if possible, as we did last year with a regional celebrity - too much authority arouses reluctance."