Below are most of the updated answers, tips and links related to Covid.
The Magellan centers rigorously apply the recommended health measures in order to allow you access to health care in complete safety.
3rd “booster” dose (half dose)
From now on, all people over 5 years old who are fully vaccinated and whose second dose or disease after the 1st dose is at least 4 months old can register online only and choose their vaccination center, date and time in live booking.
Currently, one must (with exceptions) take the same vaccine for the booster as for the primary vaccination. For people under 30 years old, the Pfizer is strongly recommended.
The Covid certificate will indicate 3/3. The validity of the booster abroad is not yet clear.
3rd full catch-up dose?
According to this information from the FOPH, a 3rd dose should be administered to patients with severe immunosuppression AND whose serology does not show satisfactory antibodies 4 weeks after the 2nd vaccination. If you are one of the patients who have immunosuppression criteria as mentioned in the text or if you have any doubts, please contact your treating physician so that he/she can evaluate the relevance of organizing a serology. In this context only, the costs of serology are covered by the Confederation.
Serologies
According to the recommendations updated on 28.5.2021, a positive serology is also accepted as proof of a past infection and therefore of administration of only one dose of vaccine. However, antibody testing is not recommended or reimbursed prior to vaccination for either the first or second dose.
An anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) serology (at your expense) can therefore be potentially useful if you do not wish to take a second dose, especially because of the side effects, and wish to know if you have had the disease in the past without knowing it. Such a positive serology can only result in a covid pass if it is done BEFORE the 14th day after the 1st dose.
If you wish to do such a serology, please note that :
Do you have to do a screening test ?
Serologies
According to the recommendations updated on 28.5.2021, a positive serology is also accepted as proof of a past infection and therefore administration of a single dose of vaccine. However, antibody testing is not recommended or reimbursed prior to vaccination for either the first or second dose.
A serology test (at your own expense) can therefore be potentially useful if you do not wish to take a second dose, notably because of the side effects, and wish to know if you have had the disease in the past without knowing it.
However, not all laboratories are able to differentiate between a positive serology due to the 1st vaccination or due to a previous Covid.
Our partner laboratory is not able to make this distinction.
To our knowledge, Dianalabs makes this distinction (Geneva: online appointment, Nyon: Tel. 021 804 92 50
You are not ill but you are or have been in contact with a Covid+ person (person living in the same household or intimate contact)
You have a positive smear (even with few or no symptoms).
From April 7, the Confederation allows each citizen (including children) to obtain 5 free Covid self-tests per month via approved pharmacies by presenting his insurance card (see RTS information).
The procedure is explained on this page of the FOPH with here what to do depending on the result. The result of a negative test is valid for 24 hours. After this period, a new test can be performed.
CAUTION: