Here are the details on how you can get a third vaccine in Hungary!

Hungary is the first European country that allows inoculation with the third dose of coronavirus vaccine from 1st August, up to four months after the second dose is received. According to experts, the combination of vaccines might be more effective; still, certain factors need to be considered before receiving the third jab.

Last week, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that Hungary allows inoculation with the third jab of coronavirus vaccine from 1st August, provided that four months have elapsed since the second vaccination.

The third vaccination can be given at the places where the first two vaccinations were given, e.g., at the GP and vaccination points – reported by Portfolio.

Still, there are several emerging questions around the third jab. The Ministry of Human Resources recommends a different type of vaccine as the third dose for those who have already taken the first two vaccines. Accordingly, by the third jab, mRNA vaccines and vector vaccines would be combined. However, Pfizer does not recommend this yet, as no studies have been conducted on the reaction so far.

The Hungarian news portal Portfolio asked experts about the emerging questions. András Falus, a Hungarian immunologist, emphasises the need for a third vaccine among all elderly people over 60 years of age who have not produced sufficient antibodies after receiving the two-dose Chinese Sinopharm vaccine. According to the expert, it would be worth starting their immunisation again. After proper antibody testing that actually measures the neutralising agent, these elderly people should receive Pfizer, for example. If the immunity level is still not sufficient, it should be confirmed with another dose of Pfizer. According to the expert, the fourth wave in the neighbouring countries will soon reach Hungary,

so the third vaccination is now strictly necessary for those elderly people who do not have sufficient immunity after the Sinopharm vaccination.

Hungarian GPs do not yet have a protocol for the proper combination of vaccines. As the immunologist say, “the third vaccination directive can be issued by Emmi with the help of professional organisations and authorities, but other procedures are possible in principle”. However, the order of the vaccines is important. For example, it can have a side effect if AstraZeneca is given after a vector vaccine, such as Sputnik because it uses a chimpanzee adenovirus.

According to the immunologist, for now, it is not worth talking about a third vaccination in the case of those who have been vaccinated with Pfizer, Sputnik, Moderna or AstraZeneca, as for them, the third jab will only be due in 6 to 12 months. Either in the case of those young people who have taken Sinopharm and have a sufficient level of immunity after the first two doses.

Miklós Rusvai, a Hungarian virologist, added that the time between primary immunisation and (third) vaccination also varies from vaccine to vaccine, the period of 4 months currently given is too short in some cases or too long in case of other vaccine types.

Therefore, the best solution would be to set the time of the third inoculation by knowing the reaction of the immune system.

The expert also emphasised that third vaccination should be scheduled before the autumn outbreak. The most preferred time for the third vaccination would be the first week of October because the third jab would have an effect at the end of October and result in a high immune response for those who need it.

Regarding the side effects of the third vaccine, he noted that they could cause roughly as many adverse effects as the first vaccine. However, he also confirmed that the negative health consequences and complications of vaccine cocktails for the future are not yet known.