|
 Hungary became the first European Union member state last week to
start administering Russia's Sputnik V vaccine after its regulator
approved the shot for emergency use rather than wait for a green
light from the EU's European Medicines Agency.
The Hungarian drug regulator has also granted approval to Chinese
Sinopharm's vaccine, also a first in the EU.
"We want more than just (to) turn the 'Closed' sign on our door. We
want to reopen the economy and the entire civic life," Orban told
parliament.
Orban wants his government's special mandate extended for 90 days,
in contrast with an open-ended mandate he sought and was given last
March, sparking international criticism.
Under the exceptional rules, the government is authorised to rule by
decree but parliament remains in session and can take back those
powers.
[to top of second column] |
 Orban said Hungary needed
vaccines faster than they were available in the
EU, making vaccine imports from China and Russia
necessary as well as from the West.
A government cargo plane took off from Budapest
on Monday morning for China, where it will load
enough vaccines from China's Sinopharm to
inoculate about 250,000 of Hungary's 10 million
residents.
"Any vaccine that is safe and has been used to
inoculate millions of people is good enough for
us," he said. "With the necessary care we will
phase out the restrictions."
(Reporting by Budapest bureau @mdunai; Editing
by Alison Williams and Timothy Heritage)
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