The federal court has dismissed a complaint from an unvaccinated student who was banned from school for two weeks after a measles case in her class.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/jdp
In 2017, a young girl was temporarily excluded from school after a measles outbreak in her class because she had not been vaccinated against measles nor had she contracted the disease.
The girl’s case argued that the administration of measles antibodies would have been a less severe measure than exclusion. However, she didn’t request to be administered with antibodies herself, but rather requested it for other unvaccinated children. In a ruling released on Thursday, the court found this argument untenable.
According to the Swiss Epidemics Act, measles is an infectious disease and measures can be taken to prevent its spread. These measures must be ‘proportionate’ – in order words, appropriate, necessary and reasonable.
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health recommends – but doesn’t require – vaccination against measles to attend school. According to a health office directive, non-vaccinated persons exposed to measles can be excluded from access to facilities or activities.
Exceptions can be made if a measles vaccine is administered within 72 hours after exposure to the disease or if antibodies are administered, a move primarily intended for people at high risk of complications from the disease.
The court argued that demanding measures be taken against third parties – in this case other unvaccinated students – cannot be considered proportional.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Politics
In Switzerland, New Year brings ‘burqa ban’ and pension hikes
Have you heard something about Swiss diplomacy that you’d like us to fact check?
Not all information circulating about Switzerland’s foreign relations is accurate or well understood. Tell us what you'd like us to fact check or clarify.
Swiss scientists discover unusual zones in Earth’s mantle
This content was published on
Using high-resolution models to study the Earth's mantle, scientists have identified zones of rocks in the lower mantle that are colder, or have a different composition, than surrounding rocks.
Egyptian diplomat’s murder: prosecutor calls for acquittal of defendant’s girlfriend
This content was published on
The Swiss attorney general has called for the girlfriend of the main defendant in the case of the assassination of an Egyptian diplomat in Geneva in 1995 to be acquitted. The woman is charged with complicity.
Low-cost e-tailers Temu and Shein put Swiss retail sector under pressure
This content was published on
Most Swiss retailers are concerned by the stiff competition from China's low-cost online platforms Temu and Shein, according to a survey.
This content was published on
More and more offices are standing empty in Switzerland's major cities. Nevertheless, new office constructions are likely to increase in the future, a study shows.
Zoos should consider culling surplus animals to regulate populations, say researchers
This content was published on
Researchers from the University of Zurich say zoos must rethink population management and allow animals to reproduce naturally - zoos should then cull surplus animals.
Swiss billionaire Martin Haefner creates foundation
This content was published on
Martin Haefner, owner of the car importer Amag and one of Switzerland's richest citizens, has set up a foundation with his wife Marianne.
Swiss army cuts uniform distribution to save millions
This content was published on
Members of the Swiss Armed Forces will only receive a distinctive grey dress uniform, the famous "Tenü A", for representational purposes in the future as a cost-cutting measure to save CHF55 million.
Swiss, Danish tourists among three dead in Australian plane crash
This content was published on
A light aircraft crashed during take-off from a tourist island in Western Australia, killing three people including Swiss and Danish tourists and injuring three others, authorities said on Wednesday.
Presidents of Ukraine and Switzerland discuss future meeting
This content was published on
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Swiss counterpart, Karin Keller-Sutter, have held talks by phone to prepare a future bilateral meeting, it was announced on Wednesday.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
How serious is Switzerland’s measles situation?
This content was published on
In 2019, more measles cases have already been reported than in all of last year. But compared to a decade ago, it's still relatively low.
Vaccine scepticism – a phenomenon in affluent societies
This content was published on
Some parents in Switzerland decide not to have their children vaccinated, which prevents the full eradication of certain diseases. Why?
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.