Autumn wave of Covid has arrived in Hungary, updated vaccines still to come
Slightly more than half of the samples collected from the end of August to the end of September showed the presence of coronavirus. Across the country, 87 GP surgeries are receiving samples from patients presenting to them with respiratory complaints from the epidemiology centre, and the results have now been published. Semmelweis University has warned in its newsletter that patients in risk groups (such as those over 60 and those with chronic illness) are advised to take the updated Covid vaccine as soon as it becomes available.
The National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK) said that the procurement of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants of the JN.1 lineage is currently underway, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation. However, it is not yet known exactly how much and what type of vaccines will be available. According to the portal,
two types have been considered so far: the mRNA technology material of Moderna and a protein-based vaccine.
Népszava also interviewed GPs about the current state of the epidemic, with many reporting that they see up to 80-90 patients a day, mostly with upper respiratory complaints. They stressed that the Covid tests carried out for weeks now confirm that there is a strong epidemic in Hungary. According to the doctors interviewed, most of the patients complained of fever, cough and weakness lasting for days. Vaccines against the currently circulating variant are temporarily unavailable in the country.
Cover photo (for illustration purposes only): Getty Images
