Hungary to send additional 100,000 Covid-19 vaccines to the Czech Republic, says PM

Hungary will send an additional 100,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to the Czech Republic, PM Andrej Babiš said during an interview on CNN Prima today. He added that the Czech government will approve an extra 50 million crowns in support of its pro-vaccination campaign on Monday.

Next week, Babiš expects about 1.1 million vaccine doses to arrive to the Czech Republic, while the government will discuss further reinforcement of its vaccination campaign.

Babiš said that Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó will bring 100,000 vaccines to Czechia on July 1.

Hungary sent 41,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to the Czech Republic in June in reaction to a lowered vaccine supply in the country after its leaders expressed disagreement with the allocation of an extra ten million vaccine doses within the EU.

Babiš said that vaccination is especially important now due to the new Delta coronavirus variant that has already appeared in the Czech Republic.

"The problem is that fewer and fewer people are registering (for the vaccination)," Babiš noted, adding that only about 6,300 people applied for vaccination on Saturday.

Additionally, thousands of Czechs attended the European Football Championship in Hungary this weekend, which might pose an epidemic threat, according to experts.

Babiš said he cannot ban people from going there, but only urge them to be cautious.

The pro-vaccination campaign will get further financial resources and engage popular personalities and music bands.

Companies should also get more involve in promoting vaccination, Babiš added.

"Delta is here, we are monitoring it, but we cannot say we are already off the hook," he said.

Speaking about Hungary, Babiš commented on its new anti-LGBTQ law contested by 17 EU countries. The PM said that the Czech government will discuss whether the country would join in the protest initiative.

"I do not think that making empty gestures is important. What matters is our behavior," he said.