Hungary approved the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine against corona. The approval came a week after it also broke ranks with Brussels by issuing a provisional permit for Russia's Sputnik V jab. 

With this approval, Hungary becomes first country in European Union to approve Chinese Covid-19 vaccine ‘Sinopharm’. Chief Medical Officer Cecilia Muller told a briefing, "Today the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition (OGYEI) gave its approval for the Sinopharm vaccine."The nation expects to order 500,000 doses of the Sinopharm jab for delivery in February, Orban's chief-of-staff said Thursday.

Earlier on Friday Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Hungary plans to sign a procurement deal with the Chinese firm "today or tomorrow" for a first delivery, adding he would choose it for his own inoculation. Orban said, "The Chinese have known this virus for the longest time, hence probably they know most about it, so I will wait for my turn, and when I choose I will want the Chinese vaccine."

Last week Hungary became the first EU member to approve Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, and said it had agreed to buy two million doses of the jab.

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