Short answer. Everyone living within 50 km of an active Swiss nuclear power plant (Beznau, Gösgen or Leibstadt) receives free potassium iodide tablets, Kaliumiodid 65 SERB, from the federal government every ten years 1. Outside that zone, cantons keep stocks for the whole population 1. The tablets "dürfen nur auf Anordnung der Behörden eingenommen werden": take them only when the authorities order it 3.
Who receives iodine tablets in Switzerland?
The federal government distributes tablets directly and free of charge, every ten years, to households, businesses and public institutions such as schools, kindergartens and day-care centres located within 50 km of Beznau, Gösgen or Leibstadt 1. The last campaign for households ran from 16 October to 19 November 2023; businesses and public institutions were supplied in the first quarter of 2024 1.
Areas around the decommissioned Mühleberg plant, in the cantons of Bern, Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Vaud, no longer receive direct distribution and now rely on cantonal stocks 1.
I moved or had a baby: how do I get tablets?
Newcomers to the distribution area and parents of newborns receive a voucher ("Bezugsschein") from their commune 12. They collect the tablets free of charge at a pharmacy or drugstore within the distribution area 2.
Can I buy potassium iodide at a Swiss pharmacy?
No. Pharmacies and drugstores are not allowed to sell Kaliumiodid 65 SERB tablets: "Ein Verkauf der Kaliumiodid 65 SERB Tabletten durch Apotheken und Drogerien ist nicht zulässig" 2. They hand them out free only against a commune voucher, inside the 50 km distribution area 2.
What if I live more than 50 km from a nuclear plant?
Cantons store enough tablets decentrally for the whole population 1. The last delivery to the cantons was made at the end of 2020, and that stock is valid at least until the end of 2029 1.
What is in a box, and who should take the tablets?
Each tablet contains 65 mg of potassium iodide, and each box holds 2 blisters of 6 tablets 13.
| Group | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Children and adolescents | Recommended 3 |
| Pregnant women | Recommended 3 |
| Adults under 45 | Recommended 3 |
| Adults 45 and over | No longer recommended 3 |
| Pregnant or breastfeeding women, any age | Should take them regardless of age 3 |
Our general guide on potassium iodide explains how iodine thyroid blocking works and why it protects only the thyroid.
When should I take iodine tablets?
Only when the authorities order it 3. The tablets are distributed in advance as a precautionary measure 1, so that they are at hand if such an order is given. Official instructions are broadcast after the sirens sound; see the Swiss alerts page. For the general logic of staying indoors after a release, see our guides on sheltering in place or evacuating and the 7-10 rule for fallout.
Who is responsible?
The distribution is managed by the Armed Forces Pharmacy (Armeeapotheke) through its iodine tablet office, with the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH, German BAG) responsible for radiation protection, under the Iodine Tablets Ordinance ("Jodtabletten-Verordnung") 1. Information is published at www.jodtabletten.ch 1.
Frequently asked questions
Are Swiss iodine tablets free?
Yes. They are distributed free within 50 km of the active plants, and newcomers collect them free with a commune voucher 12.
Should someone over 45 take them?
They are no longer recommended above 45, except for pregnant or breastfeeding women, who should take them regardless of age 3.
Can I take a tablet as a precaution if I hear about an accident?
No. The tablets may only be taken on the authorities' order 3.
Who supplies tablets outside the 50 km zone?
The cantons, from decentralised stocks covering the whole population and valid at least until the end of 2029 1.
Sources
- Armeeapotheke – Geschäftsstelle Jodtabletten Schweiz — Verteilung von Jodtabletten: eine vorsorgliche Schutzmassnahme / Fragen und Antworten — https://www.jodtabletten.ch/de/faq (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Armeeapotheke – Geschäftsstelle Jodtabletten Schweiz — Logistik — https://www.jodtabletten.ch/de/logistik (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Armeeapotheke – Geschäftsstelle Jodtabletten Schweiz — Anwendung und Wirkung — https://www.jodtabletten.ch/de/verwendung-und-auswirkungen (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Switzerland, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Armeeapotheke – Geschäftsstelle Jodtabletten Schweiz · Verteilung von Jodtabletten: eine vorsorgliche Schutzmassnahme / Fragen und Antworten checked 2026-10-20
- Armeeapotheke – Geschäftsstelle Jodtabletten Schweiz · Logistik checked 2026-10-20
- Armeeapotheke – Geschäftsstelle Jodtabletten Schweiz · Anwendung und Wirkung checked 2026-10-20