Peter Kneffel / dpa
The number of corona cases is rising again, and the vaccination rate is stagnating. In view of the precarious situation, politicians are now calling for unvaccinated people to take a clear position.
Like a prayer wheel, experts from science and politics emphasize that the way out of the corona crisis first and foremost leads through vaccinations. Nevertheless, by Wednesday, November 17, only 65.02 percent of the population had been fully vaccinated – this is one of the lowest vaccination rates in all of Europe.
On Wednesday yesterday, the BAG also registered 5981 new infections – around 2000 more than a week ago. There is also a clear upward trend in hospitalizations: the intensive care units are already 76.2 percent full, with 16.3 percent of the beds being occupied by Covid patients – and the trend is rising.
Health politicians from various parties are also reacting to the worsening situation. Ruth Humbel, President of the National Council Health Commission, told the CH Media newspapers that the problem with the unvaccinated is a political issue that should now be discussed, even if “it is uncomfortable”.
Do not give priority to unvaccinated people
In the event that the intensive care units were overloaded, Humbel brings the idea of a triage between vaccinated and unvaccinated into play. Unvaccinated people, whom they accuse of a lack of personal responsibility and self-interest, could, for example, carry an advance directive with which they would forego treatment in the intensive care unit in the event of severe Covid disease.
The idea was already considered similarly by the Zurich health director Natalie Rickli (SVP) in the summer, as the CH Media newspapers report. SVP National Councilor Verena Herzog also declared that it could not be “that vaccinated people who have also assumed their responsibility for society would have to die due to emergencies from unvaccinated people”.
According to the report, FDP National Councilor Philippe Nantermod sees it similarly. For him it is clear that «unvaccinated persons should not be given priority over other urgent cases». Nantermod emphasized that dealing with the matter was a matter for the cantons and hospitals.