Country's active case count rises to to 9,256
The Swiss medicines agency Swissmedic on Friday approved the vaccination of children aged between five and 11 with Pfizer-Biontech’s Comirnaty vaccine.
“Clinical trial results show that the vaccine is safe and effective in this age group,” it said in a statement.
The Comirnaty vaccine is administered in two doses of 10 microgrammes three weeks apart.
An ongoing clinical trial of more than 1,500 people “shows that the Covid-19 vaccine offers almost complete protection against serious illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 5 to 11-year-olds”, it said.
“Side effects tended to occur less frequently than in adolescents or adults. They included pain at the injection site and tiredness, or less frequently headache, aching limbs or fever,” the agency added.
The vaccinations were until now limited to children aged 12 or older.
Switzerland is currently experiencing a strong fifth wave of the virus.
Only the Comirnaty and Moderna vaccine are authorised in Switzerland.
The country joins Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain in Europe in giving the green light to the vaccination of children in this age group.
Canada and the United States as well as Israel and Chile have also authorised the vaccination of children of a similar age.
In France, vaccination has only been approved for young children at risk of developing serious illness but the government has said it is considering extending it to all children on a voluntary basis.
Country's active case count rises to to 9,256
Infection can cause cognitive dysfunction
Over 179.4 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far
Corbevax will be available to those over 18
Over 179.4 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far
At just over 0.2 per cent, the country’s death rate also remains among the lowest globally
Over 179 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far
The announcement coincides with a drop in the number of registered coronavirus cases