Hungary has become the first country in the European Union
to give preliminary approval to the Russian coronavirus vaccine
Sputnik V.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff confirmed both the Russian jab
and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine had been given the green light by the health authorities.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto is traveling to Moscow for further talks
where he is expected to discuss a shipment and distribution deal.
Early results from trials of the Sputnik vaccine have shown promising results.
Hungary health officials are also in Beijing for talks with the Chinese authorities
over the approval and immediate delivery of one million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine
which is already being used in neighbouring Serbia.