37,000 People Already Received 4th Vaccination in Hungary

István György, Minister of State for Territorial Administration of the Prime Minister’s Office, said on Thursday that 37,000 fourth-dose vaccines had been administered so far.

In mid-January, the government announced that a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine will be available to the entire adult population. Beginning January 15th, a fourth dose can be administered if at least four months have passed since the third vaccination and the patient’s primary care physician or vaccinator believes it is warranted. About 30 people, including a 102-year-old man, received the fourth vaccination at the Pécs clinic the next day.

By Thursday, the number of people given a fourth vaccine has exceeded 37,000. György said that taking up the fourth vaccination is particularly recommended for the very elderly, those with chronic and immune conditions and transplants, but it is recommended for anyone who received their third vaccination 4-6 months ago.

According to experts, some measures are (and would be) more important than the introduction of a fourth vaccination: the mandatory use of FFP-2 masks on public transport and indoors, the provision of FFP-2 masks to those in need, and the provision of at least one free saliva test per week for people with an insurance card (TAJ number); limiting the number of indoor public events; creating conditions for “hybrid” teaching; reorganizing vaccination centers; reorganizing quarantine measures, and transitioning to an international vaccination card.

Experts only recommend the fourth vaccination for the following groups:

• Immunocompromised or immunosuppressed due to illness or treatment
• Patients with weakened immune systems (e.g., persons taking immunosuppressive medications, transplant recipients, persons undergoing active treatment)
• Patients with cancer, weakened immune system, or HIV
• Individuals over the age of 60 who have received two Sinopharm vaccinations as basic immunization and who have subsequently been vaccinated with a Western vaccine
• High-risk healthcare workers (e.g., COVID ward staff) if they received the third vaccination more than four months ago and are elderly

Source: HVG

Featured image via Attila Balázs/MTI