The government has no plans to make vaccination mandatory
Prime minister’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás said in his today press conference that the fourth wave of the pandemic is different from previous waves because “this time we have a weapon to fight the virus in the form of vaccination”. One in 100 people inoculated against Covid gets ill, but with much milder symptoms than those who have not received any shots at all. He added that the government has no plans to make vaccination mandatory, but would leave the option of ordering workers to get inoculated open to employers.
Gulyás advised Hungarians to get a third jab, citing a study released by Pfizer last week which said that the vaccine starts losing its effect after six months. “Anyone who has been vaccinated is still in a better position after the eighth and the ninth month than one who has not received a jab,” he added.
The government is launching a week-long nationwide vaccination drive on Nov. 22, with 101 vaccination points administering a first, or a second or a booster shot without preliminary registration, Gulyás said.
The government is launching a week-long nationwide vaccination drive on Nov. 22, with 101 vaccination points administering a first, or a second or a booster shot without preliminary registration, Gulyás said.
“It is particularly important that a substantially high number of people get a booster jab with a focus on immunocompromised people in the older age group,”
he said.
In terms of health services, Gulyás said Hungary has sufficient resources and supplies available, adding that “no disruption or emergency is expected to emerge”.
In terms of health services, Gulyás said Hungary has sufficient resources and supplies available, adding that “no disruption or emergency is expected to emerge”.
Gulyás said the government has no plans to make vaccination mandatory, but would leave the option of ordering workers to get inoculated open to employers. But state employees who come into contact with a great number of people should certainly get vaccinated, he said, noting that this is why staff working in regional government administration offices overseen by the Prime Minister’s Office are required to get vaccinated by no later than Dec. 15.
Staff working in positions where they meet a fewer number of clients on a daily basis are required to receive a first jab by no later than Jan. 31, he said.
Gulyás welcomed that the full vaccination rate among health-care sector employees is high at almost hundred percent, though he cautioned the sector’s workers to receive a booster jab.
He also advised teacher unions to encourage their members to take up a third jab.
“It is hard to tell on the basis of current data when the fourth wave of the pandemic will peak,” Gulyás said, adding, however, that “the more people get vaccinated and take up a booster jab, the faster we will get over this wave”.
“Since we cannot rule out that further waves could follow, in the event of a fifth wave, people who have received a booster jab will be protected,” the cabinet chief said.
Source: MTI