Hungarians do not want to be vaccinated even though leading politicians try to persuade them
The opposition Mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, and PM Viktor Orbán do not agree on too many things nowadays. However, they both try to persuade Hungarians to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Nevertheless, it is not easy to get the message through to people, even for them.
According to MTI, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony has called on residents to “trust the vaccine against the coronavirus, the doctors and researchers, and volunteer for inoculation in the interest of protecting yourselves and others”. In a video posted on Facebook on Saturday, Karácsony suggested that confidence in the vaccine had nothing to do with political affiliation.
“Believe me, as an opposition mayor, I have a thousand reasons not to trust the government, but trusting the vaccine is not an opinion on the government or the opposition”.
“We have the weapon to stop the pandemic at hand, and we cannot afford not using it,” Karácsony said, adding that he had registered for vaccination. In his video, Karácsony again offered cooperation to the government in getting the vaccine to as many people as possible.
PM Viktor Orbán also posted several times that the only possible weapon against the virus is the vaccine and encouraged his followers to get it as soon as possible. All the same, the number of those who already registered only passed one million on Wednesday, and the increase is still moderate. Meanwhile, those who do not register will not receive a vaccine, according to 444.hu.
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As we reported before, we received many questions regarding the issue, sent by foreign citizens living, studying, or working in Hungary, after we published articles about how the government plans to vaccinate Hungarian citizens. The Civic Response Movement – one of the newest political communities in Hungary – collected the answers regarding the issue. According to their Facebook page, they were told that
those who are not Hungarian citizens but have a social security number (in Hungarian: TAJ-szám) could register on the page and will receive the vaccine according to the vaccination plan of the government.
However, those foreign citizens who do not have that number will not be able to register on the website and will not receive a vaccine from the Hungarian government.
The Civic Response Movement wrote that it remains a question whether the government will allow them to be vaccinated later, or they will have to go back to their home country to be inoculated.
If they do not want to go home to get the vaccine, they can order it.
That is because some of the private companies already started to sell them. For example, the International Vaccination Centre in Budapest has already been selling the preemptive right for the vaccine since August 20 for HUF 5,000 (EUR 14).
Source: MTI, 444.hu, portfolio.hu, DailyNewsHungary
The government has scared people off from being vaccinated with all their talk of using Russian and Chinese vaccines. Those vaccines have not had their testing regimes properly scrutinised by scientists from countries other than their own.
People can choose not to be vaccinated. It is their right, the right of refusing to fulfill their duties of citizens, for whichever stupid and absurd reason At the same time governments have the right to impose restrictions and permit attendance to public events, access to restaurants, cafes, cinemas etc. as well as travel exclusively to those who have been vaccinated. Save, of course, for those categories of people who are exempted from vaccinations. And i am pretty sure, and i hope, that is the way it is going to be. No covid vax passport no party.
Could this reluctance negativity go back weeks, possible months, when the “probably” front runners to obtain the vaccine from – to IMMUNIZE us – the names CHINA & RUSSIA – was “splashed” throughout Government citizens communication facilities ???
Do not dismiss – this opportunity – the Communication of Assurance – the vaccine or vaccines – that are and will be used in the future, for citizens Inoculation in Hungary – the country(s) – that PRODUCE them and that they originate from.
The “pendulum” will swing – Favourably – reducing the number of citizens, who have chosen or adapted this Dangerous position of Negativity – not to be immunized – against this “rampant” novel corona virus.
Driven and Themed – as written – this should be seriously considered – the approach – AGAIN – by our Government – driven by COMMUNICATION.
If reassuring Communication of the VITAL need of inoculation into the citizens of Hungary is “put out there” – AGAIN – by our Government – that confirms background, the origin and producer country(s) that the vaccine(s) – are produced and originating from, this will be a “game” or positional changer, in the citizens attitude and positions – that are taking this Negative – Uncertain or Reactionary approach and Stance to being Immunized.
Anonymous – Correct.
Mario – Correct and it will be interesting Challenging to Governments, citizens who Rightfully by Democratic use of the Laws of there Country, that Decline a Governments “invitation” to be Immunized, the treatment and the handling, or the position they are placed and categorized not labelled, in Society, throughout the ongoing layers of the journey, far off its “zenith” this novel coronavirus continues in Hungary and the World.
Personally – the last (6) six words you wrote – the directional mandatory approach that would meet with my approval.