Swiss regulators said Saturday they have authorized the vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech for COVID-19, the world's first approval for ordinary and not emergency usage.
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health said vaccinations will be distributed free of charge and are set to start in a few days for vulnerable groups and will expand on Jan. 4.
The vaccine has already been approved for emergency use in Britain, Canada, and the US.
"The safety of patients is an essential prerequisite, especially where the authorization of vaccines is concerned," Swissmedic director Raimund Bruhin, who heads the government regulator, said in a press release.
"Thanks to the rolling procedure and our flexibly organized teams, we nevertheless managed to reach a decision quickly – while also fully satisfying the three most important requirements of safety, efficacy, and quality."
Swissmedic said it meticulously reviewed the available information and concluded that "the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech is safe and that its benefit outweighs the risks."
Anadolu Agency
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