Since last week’s exceptionally favorable vaccination rate in Hungary, people’s interest in getting a jab has noticeably begun to decline. Despite the slowing down, Hungary does not plan to pay money to citizens who are willing to be vaccinated. The government believes that in addition to their information campaign, the vaccination certificate which offers various privileges to the inoculated, provides enough incentive.
The Orbán government from the very beginning has linked the gradual steps of reopening the country’s economy to the number of vaccinations. When the number of those who have received at least the first dose of the vaccine reached 3.5 million, terraces could reopen, while after the four million mark was reached last week, most of the previously unavailable services could be used again for those with immunity cards.
PMO Head: More Bilateral Travel Agreements with Certificate In Works, Promises to Solve Registration Problem
Hungary is in bilateral negotiations with a number of countries on the mutual acceptance of immunity certificates, so there’s no reason to fear the possible travel restrictions brought on by certain vaccine types, Chief of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás said during the government’s press conference on Thursday. The vaccination campaign of foreign nationals living in Hungary has already started, and they can soon book appointments online, he added.
Gulyás said Hungarians returning from other countries no longer need to go into quarantine if they have an immunity certificate, adding that the measure was being extended to accompanied minors.
Sputnik V Registration Opens for Some
Registrations for Sputnik V vaccinations have reopened thanks to more doses being available, István György, state secretary responsible for vaccination, announced. Registered individuals should have already received an SMS notification about an available timeslot for vaccination.
In the operative board’s press conference, György announced that the 200,000 most recent Russian vaccine doses would be designated to people via text message. He did not specify who they will be notifying, but that they will have already registered those individuals’ TAJ numbers for specific appointments in the National eHealth Infrastructure (EESZT) database.
Sputnik V registration comes as an addition to the foundational availability of Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccination appointments. The Russian vaccine’s track record shows that most Hungarians are willing to be vaccinated with it.
More opportunities for Pfizer/BioNTech vaccinations can soon be made available once more of the vaccine arrives to Hungary, according to Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás. The minister addressed Friday’s single-day Pfizer vaccination opportunity, saying that it made it clear that people are willing to vaccinate themselves if their preferred vaccine type is available. The availability of different vaccines appears to have an impact on people’s vaccination willingness, since Hungary’s inoculation rate has noticeably slowed down since Friday’s Pfizer wave.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced last Friday morning that registration and vaccination for Pfizer/BioNTech would be available for that day alone, after which the vaccine would be set aside for 16-18-year-olds. He later added graduating teachers to this exclusion.
Vaccination Open to Foreigners and Hungarians Without TAJ Cards
Vaccination registration has opened to foreigners living in Hungary, ethnic Hungarians living in other countries, and recently repatriated Hungarians, the government’s information center announced. A Hungarian health (TAJ) card is not required.
Registration for non-citizens, Hungarians living abroad, and repatriated Hungarians who do not yet have a TAJ card opened on Tuesday. People wishing to be vaccinated can register on www.vakcinainfo.gov.hu.
The data you need to share to register are: your name, age, email address, telephone number. They also ask if you have a Hungarian TAJ (public health insurance) number. In case you don’t have a TAJ number, the site requests you to enter the number of another official certificates (for instance, personal identity document number, passport number, residency permit number, etc.)