Americans struggling to get vaccinated in Hungary due to govt. restrictions
There is a gap in the Hungarian legislation that puts those lacking both a social security number and proof of a salaried position, in an impossible situation.
24.hu tells the story of one American citizen, a 60-something professor who has been teaching university classes in Budapest for 14 years. Officially, he is a guest lecturer whose work is paid for by an American non-profit foundation, costing the institution practically zero. However, that also means that since he is technically not employed by the university, his job does not allow him to get registered in the Hungarian social security system and thus obtain a TAJ (social security) number. And this is the tricky part: while the Government has announced that those with expired TAJ numbers are, too, eligible for the coronavirus vaccine,
there is no word on the rights of those who have never had one.
This particular group numbers thousands of foreigners, many of them from the US, who have been living in Hungary for years and, instead of relying on social security, have made use of private health service providers. Since the government has banned private companies from administering COVID-19 vaccines, these people now find themselves stuck. Without a TAJ number, they can not get vaccinated in the public health system, and they can not apply for one without proof of a salaried position unless they wait two years or pay a total of slightly more than two million forints (approx. 5 515 euros or 6 665 US dollars).
Krisztina, the wife of the man in question, has done everything in her power to try and get her husband registered in the social security system. She first turned to the local government office, near their home in Törökbálint, then to the Budapest office. They said that this case was not under their jurisdiction and recommended that she take the matter up with the National Health Insurance Fund of Hungary (NEAK), where an employee regretfully informed her that
they were aware of the situation but unable to remedy it without a new law being passed.
She has also tried the method recommended by the US Embassy in Hungary, entering nine zeroes in place of the TAJ number on the vaccine registration webpage, but that has only led to her husband’s name not showing up on the list of applicants.
Ferenc Falus, the former Chief Medical Officer of Hungary, has said that according to the current legislation, there should be no need for a social security number in order for somebody to receive the vaccine. Another alternative solution would be, as a NEAK employee had pointed out, allowing private healthcare centres to administer the vaccine, which would also speed up the process of inoculation.
Source: 24.hu
President Joe (“OLD FART”) Biden should send in the U.S. Marines.
Please send your headline on this story. It is not due to ‘legal troubles’ . We are not here illegally, and neither are we in trouble with the law or any facet of Hungarian society. Rather, you should say ‘current government restrictions’. This is very misleading and misrepresentative of all of us who pay their bills, contribute to the economy with our funds, are residents, obey all the laws and are still waiting for a vaccine and proper treatment like any other human being during this time of the pandemic.
We are many residents living ay Hungary, with hungarian families even, and til now without the possibiity of getting vaccines. I keep waiting for good news about this.
We hold Residence Permit Cards.
We under this condition of our residency are not given an TAJ number.
We cover our Health needs Personally, from our own Finances.
We have exhausted ALL areas of Government, including the Lord Mayor office in Budapest, to ascertain what is going on in relation to us being Immunized.
We receive from the applicable Government Department reply’s – “No decision has yet been made.”
The Lord Mayor of Budapest – we live in District V, we wait for a reply.
We are 60 years and 71 years of age.
This is a situation that is effecting thousands in our status of residency and likened to the party mentioned in this article.
We in the status of our residency in the thousands – contribute billions of huf into the Hungarian economy, and to feel neglected, abandoned or put in the “to hard basket” quite disgusting.
Time, in fact past the time date, that this situation was given Priority to have what procedures need undertaken for Residence Permit Card holders or those under other status of residency – without the TAJ number.
This has been going on for months and months.
it’s not just Americans, it’s everyone who is not in possession of a TAJ card.
That includes anyone stuck here because of the pandemic – it includes EU citizens, those in possession of an EHIC or even those affected by Brexit.
It makes no sense to have a reservoir of people who are potentially infected or susceptible or could become carriers roaming the country.
This has been going on since the vaccine rollout began..
it’s not just Americans, it’s everyone who is not in possession of a TAJ card.
That includes anyone stuck here because of the pandemic – it includes EU citizens, those in possession of an EHIC or even those affected by Brexit.
It makes no sense to have a reservoir of people who are potentially infected or susceptible or could become carriers roaming the country.
Dear editors, Thank you for changing the headline!! It had been very misleading to suggest that we who are here on residence permits as foreigners were in trouble with the law. Government restrictions, yes. That is correct. And Caritas, I feel for you as I am still waiting for recognition in a fair way.
In reply to the anonymous commenter who asked for the title to be changed: it’s done. As the author of the article, I apologize for my less-than-ideal phrasing, I did not intend to offend anyone or misrepresent the situation.
Thank you, again. I am also a freelance writer/ editor and it stuck out and hit a nerve, especially now. I realize it was an innocent mistake on your part. It’s not easy with second language writing. But really glad you changed it. Have a good day.
I am also one of those Americans, here with Hungarian-American family but I do not have TAJ and cannot get vaccinated. Thank you for highlighting this situation. It is very distressing.
Instead of President Joe (OLD FART) Biden informing the world’s countries what their respective TAXATION RATES will be in the future – dictated by U.S. Government policies – perhaps he should arrange to send THOUSANDS of U.S. – manufactured COVID-19 vaccines to Hungary for EXCLUSIVE USE by U.S. army personnel on U.S. citizens within U.S. property (i.e. the U.S. embassy in Budapest).
That way those U.S. citizens who feel ‘disadvantaged’ by the current COVID-19 vaccine situation in Hungary (“But I’m an American”) can be vaccinated using good old-fashioned ‘Yankee know-how’.
However, the U.S. has ALWAYS involved itself in the running of OTHER countries whilst at the same time ensuring that it has become a truly ‘third-rate’ nation.
It is no wonder that so many millions of people regularly chant out loud : “U.S.A. – GO AWAY !”
I too am one of these Americans without a TAJ card and stuck due to the policies of Hungarian Government. I do not want the US Government to take care of my vaccine NOR do I expect the Hungarian government to pay either. However, I WANT to be able to chose which vaccine I get if they ever decide to offer them to us. I have been here 4 years and absolutely love it here except when it comes to dealing with issues like getting healthcare, TAJ cards, etc and dealing with automobiles and driving issues. The run around you get is a nightmare.
Thank you very much for this article. I am one of the many foreigners facing this problem and have had no luck whatsoever in trying to resolve it. The government has said all along that people would be vaccinated based on epidemiological risk. We are now at the point where any healthy 18 year old with a TAJ number can be vaccinated but a 70 year old with underlying conditions legally residing in Hungary with no TAJ number has no recourse whatsoever. I am sure this situation is an oversight and that it would be promptly correctly if a high enough level decision maker such as Cecilia Muller is made aware of it. If anyone knows a way to reach her or another key decision maker, please forward this article to them. Thank you very much.
It would be better if your article addressed all foreigners here and not just discuss Americans.
Even EU citizens cannot get the vaccine here and the EHIC card doesn’t do anything either.
Personally I have lived here for over twenty years now, and have been dutifully paying into this system as the case may be, plus I have a Hungarian partner, Hungarian child, and my friends are all Hungarians. I pay my own way and have even worked for the Hungarian government from time to time. I love this country but I hate your politics. I have the same right to live as any other person residing here, and I am offended that nobody in a position of responsibility seems to care at all. Honestly. I am not asking for charity – I am willing to pay for my vaccinations to be sure that others may have their options, and I don’t object to subsidizing that.. But I expect the chance to be given to survive, especially since it has been decided to open up the country and schools again and allow the Foci VB games to take place, with the concurrent influx of foreign nationals on a drinking binge.. I am closing in on 60 years of age now, and I am not even slightly amused by this callous joke.
I have to say that am also offended that the US government tosses it off with “you’re on your own” as an excuse to avoid responsibility. Don’t expect loyalty from your citizenry if you can’t even hike it up when the times require it. As for the EU citizens stuck here in this position: I think you should expect, nay, demand, more responsibility from the so-called leaders of your own space.
When I read this stuff I keep thinking that Hungary is such a young country, so inexperienced & as yet,
unsophisticated. Those old men in power my have been part of the previous regime as younger burocrats, or had parents/relatives who were but in this democratic world, this 2021 things must be done differently & much more efficiently. If there is 1 that that people hate it’s red tape, created so that a few hundred people can feel important. “Big Shots” my mother used to curse with such a look on her face that you knew had she been a low class peasant, she’d have spit on the ground after saying it! People can & do love countries to which they feel an allegiance, but foolish bureaucrats don’t put enough value on that to do right by them.
When people in power justly treat people & do it quickly wihtout a lot of nonsensical run-around, people remember for a long time. Just as they remember mistreatment & injustice. THAT comes with pay-back somewhere along the way…perhaps at voting time.