PM Orbán is promising Covid vaccination by early next year

HUNGARY - In Brief 30 Oct 2020 by Istvan Racz

In his regular weekly radio interview this morning, PM Orbán spoke very optimistically about the prospects for Covid vaccination in Hungary. He said that the first, limited amount of Covid vaccines will most likely arrive in December or early January. Using that shipment, the vaccination of the ones who need it most (the elderly and those with chronic diseases) will likely start already in January. In greater quantities, vaccines will likely be available from April, allowing the start of mass vaccination in Q2.Mr. Orbán did not specify the exact source(s) from which the vaccines in question would arrive, though he surely did not refer to Russian or Chinese products. He said that in addition to the main source, the government is negotiating the purchase of Russian and Chinese vaccines as well, so it is possible that around springtime in 2021, there will be 2-3 different Covid vaccines available in Hungary.He specifically expected Hungary's health care capacities to be sufficient to handle the current and prospective Covid situation without the introduction of further restrictions. Instead of the latter, he said that compliance with the existing rules, primarily with the requirements to wear face masks is important. In recent days, the government cabinet decided to tighten mask-wearing rules further, sharply raising sanctions for non-compliance and making mask-wearing compulsory in restaurants, bars and dancing places as well (except at tables where food and drinks are consumed).In our view, Mr. Orbán's attitude reflects very well his fundamental risk-taking character. Although he described the Hungarian Covid situation as better than in Western Europe, Hungary's daily C...

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