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Coronavirus vaccines to be voluntary and free of charge

The Hungarian government is committed to providing voluntary and free vaccination against the coronavirus.

 

The Hungarian government is committed to providing voluntary and free vaccination against the coronavirus.

Gergely Gulyás, Head of the Prime Minister's Office, said anyone who wants to get vaccinated should register at vakcinainfo.gov.hu. Registration forms will also be delivered by post from Friday, he said, adding that registration will be used to gauge the demand for the vaccine. The first doses of vaccines are expected to reach Hungary at the end of this year or early next year, and frontline workers and the elderly will be the first to be inoculated.

According to MTI, Gulyás said it was too early to tell whether the epidemic had peaked in Hungary, adding that the government hoped infections had flat-lined and fatalities would start to fall soon. The number of hospitalised coronavirus patients is still below 8,000, and ICU beds are still available, he said.

Hungary, he said, was now among the countries conducting the most tests. Teachers and health-care workers have been tested in two rounds, and this week is dedicated to the testing of public servants, all of whom will have been tested by January at the latest. Gulyás noted that the government had extended coronavirus-related restrictions until Jan. 11, and will decide on special measures for the Christmas period on Dec. 21.