Hungary opts out of EU new vaccine deal

Hungary has opted out of European Union new vaccine deal that has signed with Pfizer and BioNTech for the supply of up to 1.8 billion doses of their COVID-19 jab.

Prime Minister, Gergely Gulyas, confirmed that Hungary had decided not to be part of the joint purchase, expressing confidence in the country’s current supply of vaccines.

“Hungary would also refrain from buying other vaccines through the EU procurement scheme,” Gulyas said.

“Hungary would not like to take part in the next chapter of Brussels’s vaccine purchase program.

“Even if a booster was needed, there are plenty of vaccines from Eastern and Western sources as well,” he said.

The Commission confirmed the new deal, the third it has signed with the two companies, for the possible purchase of up to 1.8 billion doses until 2023, following 600 million doses ordered via the two previous contracts.

The government suggested Russian and Chinese COVID-19 vaccines were more effective than Western ones, prompting an outcry from Hungarian scientists and doctors.

Hungary has given at least one dose of a vaccine to 49% of the adult population, the fourth-fastest rollout in the world.

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