Late 2019 a new coronavirus appeared, creating a pandemic, with the first case in Switzerland detected on the 25th of February 2020. Considering the rapid increase in the number of cases, with the fear of an over-burdening of the sanitary network, the Canton of Vaud created a surveillance system (SICOVID). The objective of the SICOVID was to produce a set of indicators, covering the breadth of the epidemiological impact and response as the epidemic progressed. These indicators where used for monitoring purposes, orienting strategies, operational decision-making, communication and research. The challenges encountered throughout this process underline the importance of anticipation and considering the function of a crisis information system, ideally integrating these elements into pandemic preparedness plans.