Orban lashes out at EU for slow vaccine rollout

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday he hoped more than 2 million people in the country would be vaccinated against the coronavirus by the start of April after Hungary became the first nation in the European Union to approve a vaccine developed in China.

Hungary broke with the EU’s common vaccine procurement programme by approving the Sinopharm vaccine on Jan. 29, and has purchased 5 million doses.

Speaking to lawmakers Orban said the approval of the Chinese vaccine along with further approval given to Russia's Sputnik V vaccine meant the country had access to five effective and safe vaccines.

I can tell you for sure that we Hungarians will be able to vaccinate 3.5 million more people by the end of May than an EU country of a similar size that relies solely on Western vaccines, Obran said, lashing out at the EU's sluggish vaccination campaign.

Our country's most important task is getting as many vaccines as possible. Not 'then', as promised by Brussels, but quickly, he said.The Hungarian government has been critical of the European Union's vaccine rollout, and in recent months has sought vaccines from countries outside the bloc's common procurement program.Hungary expects to receive 500,000 doses of the Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday while also expects an additional 200,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine to arrive this month.