In March 2020, at the peak of the first Corona virus wave, the Swiss School of Public Health SSPH+ decided to act: Reliable epidemiological data must be provided to politicians and decision makers as a basis for their decisions on appropriate and effective measures to protect the population. Within a few weeks, SSPH+ launched¨ a nationwide research program to determine the SARS-COV-2 immunity status of the Swiss population. The goals: to prevent overloading of the health care system and a second lockdown.
Meanwhile, 14 Swiss universities and health organizations joined the program and implemented the Corona Immunitas program in a coordinated manner at their sites. In addition to the basic research and survey all partners agreed on, some SSPH+ members are also investigating specific questions on COVID-19 with a total of 40 individual studies.
This nationally coordinated approach including a uniform protocol is unique worldwide.
