At a joint press conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, Hans Kluge applauded the coronavirus-related measures in Hungary, as they have protected both people and businesses. Kluge also called the Hungarian vaccination campaign exemplary. The vaccine is regarded as a life-saving tool, something that goes beyond geopolitics, he explained, underlining that vaccination is the only means of overcoming the epidemic.
He noted that Hungary’s vaccination rate is well above the European average, adding that by the end of May, everyone who has registered for the vaccine will be inoculated.
The WHO official congratulated Hungarian authorities on their decisive measures taken and mentioned that the steps of reopening should be decided according to the evolution of the epidemic. Schools need to be closed last and opened first, he said. The director also expressed his appreciation for healthcare workers whom he called “the heroes of the epidemic.”
During his visit to Budapest, Hans Kluge will meet with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Minister of Human Resources Miklós Kásler.
For his part, Péter Szijjártó announced at the press briefing that in the next 10 days, 1,480,000 doses of vaccines will arrive in Hungary from Russia and China.
The FM noted that by the end of April, a total of 2.1 million doses of Chinese vaccines will have been delivered to Hungary, as 600,000 more will be sent than originally contracted; this prevents any difficult situation that could arise with the withdrawal of a Western supplier.
Hungary has regularly consulted with the WHO during its fight against the epidemic and has acted in accordance with the organization’s standards, the foreign minister stated. Szijjártó also highlighted that Hungary is increasingly at the forefront of the European Union in terms of vaccination ranking, thanking the healthcare workers and all those involved in the logistics of the vaccination campaign. The right amount of vaccines is still being provided for a successful and rapid vaccination process, he concluded.