Vaccination Mandatory for Hungarian Healthcare Workers

In order to contain further waves of the coronavirus epidemic and protect patients, vaccination is now mandatory for healthcare workers in Hungary, according to a government decree soon to be published in the official Hungarian Gazette.

In Hungary, the vaccination program started with the vaccination of health workers at the end of December last year, with the vast majority of health workers having taken the vaccine against the coronavirus and only a few remaining who have not yet been vaccinated. They are now being asked to take up the vaccination. Health workers are at increased risk of infection and can be a source of community transmission of the virus. They need to be vaccinated to protect their health and the health of patients.

The mandatory vaccination of health workers is supported by the Hungarian Medical Chamber and the Hungarian Chamber of Health Care Professionals, and is also considered justified by the National Directorate General of Hospitals to protect the health of both health workers and patients and their relatives.

Vaccination is mandatory for all unvaccinated health workers (including health workers in primary care, outpatient care, hospitals, ambulances, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, patient transport and health workers employed by private health care providers).

In addition, vaccination is compulsory both for workers in social care institutions providing healthcare and for workers providing healthcare in social care institutions (e.g. doctors visiting nursing homes).