Covid assessment

I have no clue which one is best, we have/had some minor side effects from Sputnik, long term, perhaps I will loose my mind or get cloths in my brain. So far with Sputnik we are relatively happy. Lets see what happens, we got it, so we can not change that.

I think we have to wait for an additional 10 days before things will become effective, From now (being naive) I will consider the situation as being safe (even if not 100%), I can go shopping, go to restaurants, concerts (if any), play chess, ....

I want to re-iterate (as a TAJ card holder) I am happy with the Hungarian service.

Also as a side remark I really take the topic sersiously, I know people who were (very) sick

Junior Street wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

If I hear any negative info from my many family members in the US, most well over age 65, I'll post. So far it's been a month or longer since most had their shots. So far they are fine and traveling around the states.
Most had Moderna.

Both of my elderly parents had Moderna, and they were fine.  One of my sisters got the Johnson&Johnson jab, and she was totally fine as well.  We have heard that some people had mild reactions to Pfizer, but were okay after a few days.  I would take any of these three.

I don't think anyone chooses to be vaccinated out of any love for vaccines.  The only reason to do it is because we feel it is our duty to the general public, and perhaps to ourselves and our own communities.  Nevertheless, I need to draw that conclusion myself; it is difficult to trust governments enough to do it just because they say so.

I agree, my husband grew up in communist Hungary and is warey of anything,"recommended".
Then again, I grew up in S.Ca. and had safety drills in school incase we ever got hit by an H bomb. Hidding under your desk with your head covered is they only thing to do!
I don't think we have access here yet to Moderna shots.
I now think all my anti-vax stuff has worn my poor husband down , he is more against them now then I am.
Sooner or later though it will cme a time when everyone has to have one or but locked away for their safety.
I had a good friend who had polio as a child, she was one of the children living in a iron lung. One year like that. Polio was right in our faces and it was effecting children. Then again they were also painting with lead paint, spraying crops with DDT and cars were sputting out fumes like crazy into the air.
I suppose some of us don't believe this since we have not known anyone who has gotten ill yet.
Hate to be sorry later though for being stubborn.

Junior Street wrote:

....
Both of my elderly parents had Moderna, and they were fine.  One of my sisters got the Johnson&Johnson jab, and she was totally fine as well.  We have heard that some people had mild reactions to Pfizer, but were okay after a few days.  I would take any of these three.

I don't think anyone chooses to be vaccinated out of any love for vaccines.  The only reason to do it is because we feel it is our duty to the general public, and perhaps to ourselves and our own communities.  Nevertheless, I need to draw that conclusion myself; it is difficult to trust governments enough to do it just because they say so.

I'd say the commitment to vaccination is primarily based around protection of oneself and one's immediate family.  If one has strong ethics, then greater public good might factor into it.

All my UK relatives had the AZ version and none of them felt any after effects.  Uptake of vaccination is extremely strong in the UK with almost close to total acceptance.     That includes my 96 year old father who was mega enthusiastic for it, even insistent and lobbying to get it done. 

Here in HU, it's been a mixed bag of AZ, Sputnik and Sinopharm.  None of them reported any effects at all.   Don't know any HU family member who has actually refused it.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

....
I had a good friend who had polio as a child, she was one of the children living in a iron lung. One year like that. Polio was right in our faces and it was effecting children. ....

Hate to be sorry later though for being stubborn.

Don't be stubborn, Bill Gates is just awaiting to control you via the vaccine chips and turn you into a Microsoft/Facebook/GOogle/Instagram/LinkedIn/Snapchat drone (new acronym) MFGOILS - muff-goils)   Your distinctiveness will be absorbed into the collective as you are assimilated.  Resistance is futile.   Presumably upon joining the Bill Gates collective you need to become a nerd - all glasses, cardigans, sensible shoes and bad haircuts.  Strangely enough, Mrs Fluffy pointed out 4 guys having a meeting in a car park yesterday.  They all had laptop bags, similar dress and Mrs Fluffy said they were bound to be IT guys.  I could see what she meant.  They were like later versions of Bill Gates acolytes.   But I digress.....

Polio - that's a really good point.   

I'd forgotten how many of these childhood illnesses are routinely vaccinated.

I've been in 3rd world countries where polio was common in 30 years before. It was easy to see people disabled because of the lack of vaccination.  There's no excuse now and it's and all so unnecessary. 

Measles too - deadly for some.   

I don't see anyone complaining about the elimination of smallpox.

Oddly, here, we had to pay for the kids to be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis.  It's not a routine vaccination here even though it's deadly (kills 90% of teenagers and kids within 24h).  That particular one scares the bejesus out of me.

fluffy2560 wrote:

What really gets me is that this is all about people's egos and power grabs - Putin (aka Dobby) and Xi Jinping (Winnie the Pooh).

...And O1G...

To follow up on the last posts,
1. Perhaps technically possible to have chips injected, but as long as they do not enter my brain, it is fine. Also I strongly believe it is /will be possible to detect.
2. Most important I do not believe thos is happening in the first place
The world is changing, and yes through various different tools one could see I am going to the toilet in the not too distant future (I DO NOT CARE!!)
3. It is a perfect time for authoritarian regimes to strengthen their position
4. I do not mind on chips or even more important on totalitarian regimes (in the past yes, but most of the contributors have had a good life and so did I, my father died at 39, my grandpas both before 50 (chips were not to blame). I am now 58 and I just want comfortable last years. Worrying on the world (and take action where I could) is something from the past)
5. Why would Bill be interested in me? I am not too rich (although me and my wife are comfortable).
6. Erdogan/Putin/Orban of course I understand them real power is a nice feeling I imagine, but still all of them want to be happy
7. The world is not honest (at all) but we benefit. we are complaining, but genocides in Africa are/were largely ignored. (I am more upset on those items than I am over Covid policies)
8. Many more ......

Bottom line, many of us have had a comfortable life (and still have), just 300 years ago many of us would have been considered Methuselahem. Being 50+ in a way is already a blessing.

Complaining is in our nature I suppose, perhaps I am to naive or stupid, but looking at many others in this world (current or past) I have nothing to complain. Covid is serious and we have been in voluntary lockdown over the last year.
I have been criticized over hoarding, but in these times I think it is considered to be fine,  far less opportunities to infect or catch.

I am happy to say that we already got 2 jabs. 
Therefore once 2/3 weeks are over we will again do some massive shopping.

Vicces1 wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

What really gets me is that this is all about people's egos and power grabs - Putin (aka Dobby) and Xi Jinping (Winnie the Pooh).

...And O1G...

How absolutely true and that was very remiss of me to not mention that particular person.

I suppose there's just a long line of them in history - Lukashenko, Castro and so on.

Live long enough and one can easily see history repeating itself.

cdw057 wrote:

To follow up on the last posts,
Bottom line, many of us have had a comfortable life (and still have), just 300 years ago many of us would have been considered Methuselahem. Being 50+ in a way is already a blessing.

Complaining is in our nature I suppose, perhaps I am to naive or stupid, but looking at many others in this world (current or past) I have nothing to complain.
.

The issue is not that we live better lives than our ancestors did, the issue is how much better the general welfare of nations, people, citizens could be if despots did not selfishly, greedily steal from their compatriots. This is an infringement against the millions for the benefit of one. Isn't that why we rid ourselves of slavery, serfdom, and monarchies?

Freedom of speech covers complaining and when enough people complain, some things can change for the better of everyone. Complacency has never advanced general human (and humane) welfare.

Even if you're careful and keep pretty much to yourself, the problem is that stuff happens. You fall and end up in the hospital, a hotspot for Covid transmission. Or suddenly need emergency dental work, another hotspot. Or you're just unlucky somehow.

So while I'm concerned about the unknown long-term side effects, I decided that on balance getting the Pfizer doses made sense, and invested a lot of effort to get them. But everyone has to make their own balancing decision.

Stuff indeed happens, but one can limit the risk, eg we went out shopping over the last year once per month maximum, sometimes even once per 2 months.
We decided very early on to take a vaccine (it happened to be Sputnik, lets see how this will develop in terms of recognition, but from what I read Sputnik is not too bad at all).
We are now waiting for our Hungarian green card, I am pretty sure this will evolve into a EU green card.
I was/am more worried on long term side effects of getting Covid (mild or severe) rather then being worried on side-effects of Vaccines, let see how these will develop.

cdw057 wrote:

Stuff indeed happens, but one can limit the risk, eg we went out shopping over the last year once per month maximum, sometimes even once per 2 months.
We decided very early on to take a vaccine (it happened to be Sputnik, lets see how this will develop in terms of recognition, but from what I read Sputnik is not too bad at all).
We are now waiting for our Hungarian green card, I am pretty sure this will evolve into a EU green card.
I was/am more worried on long term side effects of getting Covid (mild or severe) rather then being worried on side-effects of Vaccines, let see how these will develop.

I also think the green card will evolve - the EU will allow delegation of EU vaccine certificates to national governments.   It cannot do anything else and it's not like there isn't precedent -  i.e. ETAIS.

The value of this EU pass remains to be seen - if it's not accepted worldwide it's not going to be very  useful.  They will have to have mutual recognition - so might need a treaty and it could take years to negotiate it.   But I'm expect them to charge for it or bundle it into visa fees.   

I expect there will be some challenges in the courts on Human Rights grounds as it's bound to become the source of discrimination cases.

I'm waiting for Hungary to re-open to vaccinated non-EUers and particularly waiting to see what documentation will be accepted. Bulgaria apparently is accepting the simple CDC card Americans get.

zif wrote:

I'm waiting for Hungary to re-open to vaccinated non-EUers and particularly waiting to see what documentation will be accepted. Bulgaria apparently is accepting the simple CDC card Americans get.

It's already becoming a minefield. 


I heard on the radio (UK LBC) that in the UK they catch 100 people a day at Heathrow Airport with fake PCR test certificates.   

And I also read that fake vaccine certificates are easily available in the USA.

Got a link on the Bulgarian acceptance of the CDC cards?

It was Montenegro not Bulgaria that confirmed the CDC card will work.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic … negro.html

I'm actually getting headaches thinking about this subject everyday darn day.
If we wished to we could get a jab almost anytime and probably the covie pass too.
Just waiting to see which vax will be expected worldwide because there is no way we want to mix and match batches of who knows what.
That's the thing, who knows what we are putting into ourselves.
Everyday outside my window I see one to more then 7 military people walking down my sidewalk. We live across from a hospital with an old folks home in the same complex.
These military people are coming back and forth from yet another hospital located down the blvd from our flat.
It's so unreal really. Even a few military people with machine guns.
We passed 2 of them last week and I gave one of them a look and said to him ,"point the barrel down". He didn't seem to know  how to handle a gun. Could of shot anyone in the stomach including me the way he was radomly holding it like it was a toy.He partner heard me too and readjusted his gun as well to make sure it was pointing towards the ground and not towards anyone.
Not cool, defo not cool. I'm not afraid to say something if needed like be careful or watch out. Going to get myself in it one day perhaps?
Gun safety is a must.
They are stationed at one hospital to check when people enter to ask why there are entering and to check your temp.
Nice enough, so far...
At this point none of the SE Asian countries we planned on visiting are excepting tourists and not sure if they will open up by this fall or not.
Had an idea of meeting our boy in Asia and spending a few months with him exploring places.
Oh well, some day or possibly never.
Our neighbor the one who has dropped weight over the stress has a niece who lives in a small town in HU.
She works in the city hall there and knows everyone in town .
She had a vax and went to her doctor to ask about having children. Her doctor made a face and said to forget it now that she is vaxed.
Now that is not me trying to spread fear or panic but why would the trusted doctor who she knows as a friend say that to a young newly married lady if it wasn't a warning of sorts?
I'm sorry for what is going on and for people who think this is going away any time soon.
My husband really is chill about the whole thing, taking a wait and see attitude and is ready for just about anything at anytime.
So many younger people seem to be jumping to get jabbed without really understanding they are trying out something that has never been injected into humans for very long.
Maybe I'm over thinking like I tend to do, hope that is just the case
I really wish we could take the approach like Sweden, no masks and just use some good sense.
Even Japan isn't forcing mask wearing  and they may of invented the mask wearing thing.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

...
Everyday outside my window I see one to more then 7 military people walking down my sidewalk. We live across from a hospital with an old folks home in the same complex.
These military people are coming back and forth from yet another hospital located down the blvd from our flat.
It's so unreal really. Even a few military people with machine guns.
We passed 2 of them last week and I gave one of them a look and said to him ,"point the barrel down". He didn't seem to know  how to handle a gun. Could of shot anyone in the stomach including me the way he was randomly holding it like it was a toy.He partner heard me too and readjusted his gun as well to make sure it was pointing towards the ground and not towards anyone.
Not cool, defo not cool. I'm not afraid to say something if needed like be careful or watch out. Going to get myself in it one day perhaps?
Gun safety is a must.
They are stationed at one hospital to check when people enter to ask why there are entering and to check your temp.....

It's COVID19 theatre. 

Putting armed soldiers on the door of a hospital does nothing at all. What's it supposed to do? It's supposed to look good.   Right wing can say, yeah, boo-yah, we're sticking it to..... errrr......who?  people? patients?  someone? anyone?

I was at Janos Korhaz a few weeks ago and the soldiers there were all way too weighty looking and most of them were smoking roll up cigarettes.  Looked very undisciplined compared to other military forces I've seen in a public facing role.

Hi all,
Has anyone else heard that there are problems to issue the vaccination card (allowing free movement and travel) to those who do not have a Hungarian ID card?

Apparently, a non-Hungarian lady, married to a Hungarian, cannot get this card because she has no HU ID card.
She is employed in Hungary, has medical insurance, TAJ...
But it seems they cannot issue the card and the problem might be solved as late as August/September.

In my case, I do not even have TAJ... so it is even more complicated for me then.

If this really means that all of us who are not holders of a HU ID card will not get the full documentation allowing freedom until as late as September... I for one will reconsider getting the vaccine in Serbia instead.

Any thoughts or information about this?
Thanks

We do have our TAJ card and hopefully we wil get our green card shortly, having said that when receiving our second jab the doctor in charge mentioned we have to be patient (very patient).

We are happy to have received our 2nd Sputnik, but of course like all we want our green card, having said that even many Hungarians did not even receive their first (I think they did not register in time) but they start to complain (their mistake I think)

No idea about the immunity card.Read on a FB ex-pat site that some people got them within weeks and others are waiting and waiting.
Most are not perm residents from what I gather.
I also heard the system shut down for a bit?
Read today that in India people are covering themselves in cow dung to get protection from C-19.
I'm going to get some hate mail but I suggested they eat the cow instead since their blood needs the iron to build up their immunity and lungs. I was seriosly anemic and I can honestly say I could hardly get my breath just crossing the room. Was in fantastic shape otherwise was working out daily hard, not sure how I was able to even do that. I passed out at work one day and finally found out how ill I was from lack of red blood cells.

My friend has found the real cause.
Hungarian system keeps data about ID and passport numbers and can connect it with TAJ number for Hungarians.
Our (foreigners) ID and passport numbers are NOT in Hungarian system.
We have to go to Kormany ablak (no reservation needed) and give them our passport number.
That's all.
They issue a paper that is as good as a plastic card in giving you freedom to go inside restaurants etc right on the spot.

I had a bad luck though as my doctor f*ck up my birth date in the system and only she can correct it, so I needed to go to more than one place...

The problem with the Sputnik it is not recognized in all countries.

VIMUKTI YOGA wrote:

My friend has found the real cause.
Hungarian system keeps data about ID and passport numbers and can connect it with TAJ number for Hungarians.
Our (foreigners) ID and passport numbers are NOT in Hungarian system.
We have to go to Kormany ablak (no reservation needed) and give them our passport number.
That's all.
They issue a paper that is as good as a plastic card in giving you freedom to go inside restaurants etc right on the spot.

I had a bad luck though as my doctor f*ck up my birth date in the system and only she can correct it, so I needed to go to more than one place...

Precisely... so now my question is when this visit to Kormany ablak is needed?
I assume after the 2nd vaccine... but even then, when exactly?
And will this piece of paper be valid for travel abroad?
I'm more interested in travel than sitting inside a restaurant in Budapest.

Thanks

VIMUKTI YOGA wrote:

My friend has found the real cause.
Hungarian system keeps data about ID and passport numbers and can connect it with TAJ number for Hungarians.
Our (foreigners) ID and passport numbers are NOT in Hungarian system.
We have to go to Kormany ablak (no reservation needed) and give them our passport number.
That's all.
They issue a paper that is as good as a plastic card in giving you freedom to go inside restaurants etc right on the spot.

I had a bad luck though as my doctor f*ck up my birth date in the system and only she can correct it, so I needed to go to more than one place...

I'm wondering about this.

BMBAH (Immigration) absolutely know about passport numbers, foreigners registration number or card number and the address card number.   They know all of that.

What it sounds like is a failure to tie up all the different indexes for issuing a card.  To me it sounds like a really trivial IT problem.

On the other hand,  just idle speculation, there may not be a legal framework for data sharing health data. This might be the real reason to visit the Kormany office - to give permission.

markons wrote:

....
Precisely... so now my question is when this visit to Kormany ablak is needed?
I assume after the 2nd vaccine... but even then, when exactly?
And will this piece of paper be valid for travel abroad?
I'm more interested in travel than sitting inside a restaurant in Budapest.

Thanks

Me too.  I want to travel.   And visit the beach at Balaton during the summer. 

I don't care about the restaurants.

I think they won't have sorted the international acceptance for years.   

Probably inter-EU and bordering countries, 1st world countries like Australia, NZ, Canada, Singapore and USA it will be fine. 

But other places, not so much.

Thing is they already have a mechanism for vaccination certificates - the WHO Yellow Fever certificates are world wide acceptable.  Low tech paper suitable for using on any remote border post.   Seems a no brainer .  Fancy apps won't do anyone any good crossing the Mekong in a dug out canoe.

VIMUKTI YOGA wrote:

My friend has found the real cause.
Hungarian system keeps data about ID and passport numbers and can connect it with TAJ number for Hungarians.
Our (foreigners) ID and passport numbers are NOT in Hungarian system.
We have to go to Kormany ablak (no reservation needed) and give them our passport number.
That's all.
They issue a paper that is as good as a plastic card in giving you freedom to go inside restaurants etc right on the spot.

I had a bad luck though as my doctor f*ck up my birth date in the system and only she can correct it, so I needed to go to more than one place...

Thanks for sharing this info.
Might come in handy at some point in time.
ATM I'm not interested in getting a vax but if life becomes impossible( probably will) we will have to submit.
Most people we know have submitted.
My husband seems to think they will get tired of this game and leave us in peace, yes, he is a dreamer...
I'm getting surgery soon and so far they still only require a current PCR test to get into surgery.
I was sure they were about to tell me to get a jab first but no, that PCR test will never go away .

Good luck with your surgery, Marilyn!

VIMUKTI YOGA wrote:

Good luck with your surgery, Marilyn!

Thank you. It will be great to not have double vision and to see clear again...

I have an update for those who HAVE TAJ and ugyfelkapu and ARE vaccinated.

As we are not receiving our immunity cards because our ID and passport numbers are not normally held in Hungarian system, we need to go to kormany to give them our data.
Then wait for the card and use big paper as a card replacement.

Since yesterday there is an option is EESZT Lakossagi application that shows your QR code (same as card does) even if you were not at Kormany yet to advise ID / passport details.
You need to download EESZT Lakossagi app, log in to EESZT.gov.hu website, mobilalkamazasok, new registration, than follow the instructions. You don't need 2 devices (base procedure ask for scanning QR code from the website to activate the app) - you may change QR code on the website into character string and copy paste it into the app.
Then you need to invent 6 number PIN and you are set.

The system was down this morning because so many people tried to log in, but it has to start working again at some point .
Good luck!

Hi all,
Anyone got any update on the vaccination process for foreigners?
More precisely, for resident non-Hungarians with NO TAJ szam?

I registered for vaccination, entering my Personal identity document number since I do not have a TAJ szam... just like some other people here, I received no feedback, no notification of any kind and it's been a while.

I still need to get an appointment.
Someone suggested I enter 000000000 for TAJ szam, but I read that entering generic numbers should not be done.

Shall I keep waiting?
Anyone in the same situation made some progress with this?

Thanks

markons wrote:

Hi all,
Anyone got any update on the vaccination process for foreigners?
More precisely, for resident non-Hungarians with NO TAJ szam?

I registered for vaccination, entering my Personal identity document number since I do not have a TAJ szam... just like some other people here, I received no feedback, no notification of any kind and it's been a while.

I still need to get an appointment.
Someone suggested I enter 000000000 for TAJ szam, but I read that entering generic numbers should not be done.

Shall I keep waiting?
Anyone in the same situation made some progress with this?

Thanks

Nope, nothing has happened.  It's as dead as a Dodo.   I wouldn't hold your breath that anything is going to happen in this month or the next.  I might be being very pessimistic.   

Perhaps check out the other thread on COVID19 and Expats.   Info gets posted there too.

fluffy2560 wrote:

markons wrote:

Hi all,
Anyone got any update on the vaccination process for foreigners?
More precisely, for resident non-Hungarians with NO TAJ szam?

I registered for vaccination, entering my Personal identity document number since I do not have a TAJ szam... just like some other people here, I received no feedback, no notification of any kind and it's been a while.

I still need to get an appointment.
Someone suggested I enter 000000000 for TAJ szam, but I read that entering generic numbers should not be done.

Shall I keep waiting?
Anyone in the same situation made some progress with this?

Thanks

Nope, nothing has happened.  It's as dead as a Dodo.   I wouldn't hold your breath that anything is going to happen in this month or the next.  I might be being very pessimistic.   

Perhaps check out the other thread on COVID19 and Expats.   Info gets posted there too.

Yep, nothing is happening.  Meanwhile my wife (Hungarian) got a call from a doctor's office offering her Moderna, but she already has an appt for Pfizer elsewhere.  So there are vaccines out there looking for homes.  They just don't know how to give appts for those w/out TAJ.  Sucks. 

And now it appears vaccinated Americans will be able travel freely in Europe this summer.  However, Americans in Hungary who can't get vaccinated are free to enjoy Hungary's many sites that don't happen to require a special card. 

I sincerely hope it's a matter of days, not months, before this is fixed.

I just got some info from my Hungarian friend. This is what he heard on the news:
"There are press conferences daily held by the government (Kormányinfo)
Today they told that they are currently working on the issue
So to enable booking a timepoint for vaccination for people not having TAJ
It will be resolved soon"

So perhaps the Dodo is about to resurrect.

markons wrote:

I just got some info from my Hungarian friend. This is what he heard on the news:
"There are press conferences daily held by the government (Kormányinfo)
Today they told that they are currently working on the issue
So to enable booking a timepoint for vaccination for people not having TAJ
It will be resolved soon"

So perhaps the Dodo is about to resurrect.

Yes,  before 2nd class persons hereabouts can access the vaccine, the Dodo will return along with the Great Auk or the giant furry elephants.  Forget the dinos of Jurassic Park, let's have Woolly Mammoths roaming the Hungarian plain.  I could get excited about furry elephants.  Dinos, not so much.

Junior Street wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

markons wrote:

Hi all,
Anyone got any update on the vaccination process for foreigners?
More precisely, for resident non-Hungarians with NO TAJ szam?

I registered for vaccination, entering my Personal identity document number since I do not have a TAJ szam... just like some other people here, I received no feedback, no notification of any kind and it's been a while.

I still need to get an appointment.
Someone suggested I enter 000000000 for TAJ szam, but I read that entering generic numbers should not be done.

Shall I keep waiting?
Anyone in the same situation made some progress with this?

Thanks

Nope, nothing has happened.  It's as dead as a Dodo.   I wouldn't hold your breath that anything is going to happen in this month or the next.  I might be being very pessimistic.   

Perhaps check out the other thread on COVID19 and Expats.   Info gets posted there too.

Yep, nothing is happening.  Meanwhile my wife (Hungarian) got a call from a doctor's office offering her Moderna, but she already has an appt for Pfizer elsewhere.  So there are vaccines out there looking for homes.  They just don't know how to give appts for those w/out TAJ.  Sucks. 

And now it appears vaccinated Americans will be able travel freely in Europe this summer.  However, Americans in Hungary who can't get vaccinated are free to enjoy Hungary's many sites that don't happen to require a special card. 

I sincerely hope it's a matter of days, not months, before this is fixed.

My guess it will only be when they've exhausted all HU people here or in neighbouring countries. 

I just heard some British guy on the radio relating how he did an extensive trip to the USA taking in LA and he obtained the Johnson and Johnson jab on demand there.  Of course that's not approved hereabouts. 

It's dead easy to make appointments for foreigners.  Simply let them have it at private clinics or the Travel Centre (OEK).   They make appointments all the time using a commercial reservation system. It's not technology related,  They can have a government worker in the private clinic who can collect the vaccinated person's details and issue a stamped paper.   There's no excuse at all, it's simply a government organisation problem or some disjointed thinking.  Hungary is not going to get good international PR on this.     

I'd be interested to know if people have used their CDC certificates here to get around the HU vaccination restrictions on entry to public venues.

https://hungarytoday.hu/vaccination-taj … -taj-card/ 

So maybe waiting for a phone call.  Hope it's soon!

About the British guy getting shots in the US: yes, they are freely available now. Walmarts and supermarkets with pharmacies have signs up at the entrance, "No Appointment Needed, Walk-Ins Accepted."

And no citizenship requirement. (That would discriminate against illegal aliens.)

However, you still cannot fly to the US if you have been in Schengen or the UK in the past 14 days, unless you're a US citizen or resident. Or a very special person of some sort. So that puts a brake on a lot of potential vaccine tourism.

zif wrote:

About the British guy getting shots in the US: yes, they are freely available now. Walmarts and supermarkets with pharmacies have signs up at the entrance, "No Appointment Needed, Walk-Ins Accepted."

And no citizenship requirement. (That would discriminate against illegal aliens.)

However, you still cannot fly to the US if you have been in Schengen or the UK in the past 14 days, unless you're a US citizen or resident. Or a very special person of some sort. So that puts a brake on a lot of potential vaccine tourism.

Well I am a US citizen, but there are numerous difficulties with going to the US to get shot(s).  10-day quarantine there, 10-day quarantine on the return, plus as far as I know, I would be ineligible for the Hungarian vaccinated card.  A trip to the US to get vaccinated would probably be a 1-way ticket for me.  Imagine if you could get vaccinated in drugstores here!

By the way, I love that the US is indiscriminately making vaccines available inside the country.  It's a public health crisis, it's the only ethical way to deal with the situation in my view.   Now if they could only take care of their citizens abroad.

There is a recommended self-quarantine at the Federal level but it is not required only suggested. Some local areas, like S California, still have quarantine requirements but it's easy to head elsewhere instead. There may also be a few states left that limit shots to local residents.

And yes, once big chains like Walgreen's, CVS and Walmart got in the picture shots became widely and easily available. Very hard to see the same thing happening in Europe or elsewhere.

zif wrote:

...And yes, once big chains like Walgreen's, CVS and Walmart got in the picture shots became widely and easily available. Very hard to see the same thing happening in Europe or elsewhere.

I tend to agree.   I'm no fan of the privatised US health system but if the state (Hungary) cannot do the logistics or organisation, they should at least allow the private sector to cover those in the country who are willing to cough up some cash to get it done.  It seems rather weird to restrict it in that way and create a PR and public health problem.

That said, if you look at the pharmacy sector here, there are no pharmacies in supermarkets or large stores unlike some other countries in Europe. 

In the UK, we have pharmacies in the major supermarkets and it's fairly easy to get a flu jab at a local pharmacy, given by a pharmacist.

Looks like the COVID19 vaccine preparation is a little trickier than a flu jab.  Needs mixing up and protocol on preparing the syringes.   But I doubt it would take more than a day's training to get someone competent to give the jab.  They are probably already thinking about a different dispensing method - like a single use pen.  Then anyone can give it to another person with 5 minutes reading of the instructions.

It's also psychological. Who wants to traipse across town to a big arena to wait and be herded around like cattle. So much easier just to stop by the pharmacy in your supermarket. If there's a wait you do it tomorrow.

There's a lot bad to be said about US healthcare, but getting 160 million vaccinated with at least one dose by today is astonishing. Only Britain has been in the same league, and it has the advantage of a national health system.

Japan -- supposedly hosting the Summer Olympics -- has barely started!