I never thought I would use the words ‚vaccination‘ and ‚bribe‘ in the same sentence — let alone in the context of a country such as Switzerland. But here we go: each year Switzerland like most of Western Europe gets hit by a seasonal flu epidemic, with the Swiss federal health authority reporting, that last winter some 210‘000 doctor’s visits related to the flue were recorded.
Obviously the resulting sick days mean lost working days and thus productivity for employers (a normal bout of influenza lasts usual between 3 and 7 days), hence why an increasing number of companies start paying for their employee’s flu vaccination , one even offering on top an extra day off work for staff members who get vaccinated.
How important the flu vaccination is to the Swiss authorities is also clear from the fact, that the Federal Office of Public Health holds each year a National Flu Vaccination Day (in 2019 it was on 8 November). On this day all doctors surgeries offer the jab at roughly half price and without making an appointment.
If we look at the chart below courtesy of the Federal Office of Public Health when the flu epidemics peaked in previous years, we‘re likely to see a peak over the coming weeks… so keep healthy!
And if you can’t avoid the flu, make the most of it: catch—up on sleep and the long overdue reading…
The grumpy older man 