Health Office to boost efforts to reach foreigners

The Federal Health Office is upping its efforts to persuade non-Swiss residents to get vaccinated after figures show more than half of those in hospital in Bern with Covid are not Swiss and not vaccinated.

A study by the canton of Bern shows its mainly foreigners who are caught up in the fourth wave of infections. Most from South eastern Europe and Arabic countries. 

The Berne Health Office says they are countries with low vaccination rates and a generally sceptical attitude to the jab. 

The canton says it is redoubling efforts to reach out to sections of the population who are difficult to reach. Many don’t speak a national language or English. The canton is now publishing vaccine information in 20 languages. 
 

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