Getting a booster shot against coronavirus in Hungary

Last updated on 22 October 2021.

Even though pandemic related restrictions have recently been relaxed (see the October updates here), the pandemic itself is far from over. Whichever vaccine you got, a booster shot might be useful to prevent you catching any of the new coronavirus variants and infecting others. In line with this, getting a third coronavirus shot will now become possible in Hungary.

Who should take a booster shot?

Since most coronavirus vaccines involved getting two shots, the booster shot is often referred to as the “third” coronavirus shot. Taking it is advised primarily to those who are more vulnerable to any disease: the elderly, those suffering from chronic illnesses, and those with a compromised immune system.

Of course, you can also take a booster shot if you do not belong to the above group. Some people who have received a vaccine that is not approved by the EU (Sputnik V, Sinopharm) want to take a vaccine that is (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen), to make sure they can travel to all EU countries without restrictions. This is a perfectly valid reason – just make sure to discuss your options with your GP or family doctor.

How to apply for the booster shot?

You will soon be able to make an appointment for your booster shot through the EESZT system (the Hungarian healthcare database), same as when you were booking an appointment for your first (two) vaccination. You can log in to EESZT with your TAJ number and your Ügyfélkapu registration (through the Customer Portal for e-administration). If you do not have a TAJ number, use the PID you received in an email for this purpose. Learn more here.

Booking an appointment becomes available 4 months after your final dose of the first vaccine. This is because receiving the booster shot is recommended 4-6 months after the first vaccination, no sooner. Once the option is open for you, you can book an appointment based on which vaccine you prefer, same as with the first vaccine. The first appointments will be available starting from 1 August.

Which vaccine to choose for the booster shot?

It is recommended to take a vaccine of a different type that you had previously. For example, if you received an mRNA vaccine, the booster should be an adenovirus or inactive coronavirus based vaccine. To make it simple, we have summarized the recommendations in the below table.

What you got	What to take
Sinopharm	Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen
Pfizer, Moderna	Sinopharm, Janssen, AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Janssen	Pfizer, Moderna, Sinopharm

While you can make an appointment for the booster dose on your own, you should discuss your options with your GP (or family doctor) who knows your medical history and can decide with more confidence what is best for you. In any case, the final decision is in the hand of the physician who is administering the vaccine.

What to do next?

The pandemic is not yet over. New variants pop up daily, and new results are published regularly about treatment options and the efficiency of vaccines. Your best option is to do everything you can to keep yourself and everyone else safe: get vaccinated, and get a booster shot if you can, when you can. For extra safety, you can still wear a mask, especially in crowded spaces, like on public transportation, even though it is not obligatory anymore.

To sum up:

Take the booster shot 4-6 months after your final dose of the original vaccine
Take a booster shot if you are considered “vulnerable”
Take a booster that is a different type from what you originally received
Discuss your options with your GP

Want to keep up to date with new related to the pandemic, restrictions, and options for getting vaccinated? Helpers has been providing business and immigration assistance to foreigners in Hungary for more than 15 years, and we regularly update our blog with the latest news most relevant to you. Follow us on Facebook to always get notified.

The post Getting a booster shot against coronavirus in Hungary appeared first on HELPERS.