The pandemic affected everyone in Switzerland. But it didn’t affect everyone to the same degree. Socially disadvantaged groups suffered particularly numerous and particularly severe cases of COVID-19. Researchers have been looking into the contexts and connections here. And they’ve concluded that there are key lessons to be learned from the pandemic experience.
What impact did the pandemic have on socially disadvantaged population groups? And what lessons can we learn from this for the future? A number of researchers have been addressing these questions on the FOPH’s behalf. The factsheet summarises the key findings from the various scientific publications on the issue, and highlights the lessons learned.
Social disparities and COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic had differing impacts on the Swiss population. Older people and individuals with pre-existing conditions were at particularly high risk of developing severe COVID-19. People’s social situation played an important role, too.
As the following studies show, Switzerland’s migrant population and socially disadvantaged groups were hit especially hard by the pandemic and its repercussions.
Social inequality and severe cases of COVID-19 among the migrant population
This study uses quantitative and qualitative analyses to illustrate how seriously Switzerland’s migrant population suffered severe cases of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 and how they met and mastered the pandemic and its challenges.
The impact of the pandemic on disadvantaged population groups
This report provides a systematic overview of the research into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disadvantaged population groups in Switzerland.
Within the broader framework of existing projects, researchers have also studied health literacy in relation to COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic on undocumented migrants in Geneva.
N.B. A bulletin on the subject of ‘Social inequality and COVID-19’ will be published by the Swiss Health Observatory (Obsan) in August 2024. You can subscribe to the Obsan Newsmail here.
Lessons from the pandemic
Socially disadvantaged groups do not have the same ways, means and opportunities to stay healthy or regain their health. The Swiss Confederation and its partners took various actions and supported numerous projects to facilitate such groups’ access to information and healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic. These activities also saw the use of various existing channels and collaborations to swiftly and specifically reach the target groups concerned.
The following studies evaluated experiences in responding to the pandemic, and also offer lessons that can be learned for any future crisis of this kind.
Lessons learned from COVID-19 communications with the migrant population
This study summarises the lessons that were learned from the COVID-19 communications with Switzerland’s migrant population and with other socially disadvantaged groups.
Vaccination and implementation of COVID-19 protection measures among persons in precarious life situations
This study evaluates a means of raising both the willingness to be vaccinated and the adoption of COVID-19 protection measures among Switzerland’s migrant population and persons in precarious life situations.
Last modification 15.08.2024
Contact
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Healthcare and Related Professions Division
Health Equity Section
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
3003
Bern
Switzerland