As Europe grapples with vaccine distribution, Hungary has become the first European Union(EU) country to approve the Chinese coronavirus<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-vaccine-not-linked-to-post-jab-deaths-eu-regulator-assures-360081"> vaccine</a> Sinopharm.

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Hungary is expected to order 500,000 doses of the vaccine. The country had approved Russia's Sputnik V vaccine last week. Hungary's drug regulator earlier had approved Britain's AstraZeneca as Budapest strives to lift coronavirus lockdown to boost the economy.

Hungary completed the vaccinations of medical professionals and begun inoculating the elderly.

PM Viktor Orban said the country will begin administering the general population from next month.

Several countries in Europe including Spain have halted administering vaccines as the doses have finished with Pfizer under fire from the EU to distribute more vaccines. Spain is one of the worst-hit country in Europe with over 2.7 million cases and over 57,000 deaths.

According to Spain's health ministry, the country has administered just over 78.9 per cent of the 1.76 million vaccines received as part of the EU's vaccination plan with shortages set to continue.

Meanwhile, the WHO said vaccine manufacturers were working to plug shortfalls in supplies.

"Solidarity does not necessarily mean that each country in the world starts (vaccinating) at exactly the same moment ... The good understanding is that no one is safe before everyone is safe," Hans Kluge, WHO director said.

"The reality is there is a shortage of vaccines...we don't doubt that manufacturers and producers are working 24-7 to bridge the gap and we're confident the delays we are seeing now are going to be made up by extra production in the future," Klunge added.

As Europe grapples with vaccine distribution, Hungary has become the first European Union(EU) country to approve the Chinese coronavirus vaccine Sinopharm. Watch: Hungary is expected to order 500,000 doses of the vaccine.

As Europe grapples with vaccine distribution, Hungary has become the first European Union(EU) country to approve the Chinese coronavirus vaccine Sinopharm. Watch: Hungary is expected to order 500,000 doses of the vaccine. The country had approved Russia's Sputnik V vaccine last week. Hungary's drug regulator earlier had approved Britain's AstraZeneca as Budapest strives to lift coronavirus lockdown to boost the economy. Hungary completed the vaccinations of medical professionals and begun inoculating the elderly. PM Viktor Orban said the country will begin administering the general population from next month. Several countries in Europe including Spain have halted administering vaccines as the doses have finished with Pfizer under fire from the EU to distribute more vaccines. Spain is one of the worst-hit country in Europe with over 2.7 million cases and over 57,000 deaths. According to Spain's health ministry, the country has administered just over 78.9 per cent of the 1.76 million vaccines received as part of the EU's vaccination plan with shortages set to continue. Meanwhile, the WHO said vaccine manufacturers were working to plug shortfalls in supplies. "Solidarity does not necessarily mean that each country in the world starts (vaccinating) at exactly the same moment ... The good understanding is that no one is safe before everyone is safe," Hans Kluge, WHO director said. "The reality is there is a shortage of vaccines...we don't doubt that manufacturers and producers are working 24-7 to bridge the gap and we're confident the delays we are seeing now are going to be made up by extra production in the future," Klunge added.

Hungary becomes first country in EU to approve Chinese vaccine Sinopharm as Europe grapples with virus

As European nations begin preparations to vaccinate citizens against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-confirms-new-virus-strain-as-vaccines-begin-arriving-in-european-nations-352576">coronavirus&nbsp;</a>on Sunday, Hungary took the lead on Saturday ahead of the EU's December 27 date.

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Hungary had received its shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday morning and it almost immediately began inoculating health workers with the first vaccinations carried out at Budapest's main coronavirus centre, the Del-Pest Central hospital.

Reports said at least three health workers had received the first dose of the vaccine on Saturday morning. Hungary has reported 315,362 coronavirus cases with 8,951 fatalities.

Hungary administered the first vaccine shot to doctor Adrienne Kertesz at the Del-Pest Central hospital. The country is set to get vaccine consignments in the coming weeks with mass rollout due to take place in the first half of 2021.

The country has been hard with the virus in the winter with 8,900 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-bans-entry-of-foreigners-after-detecting-new-virus-strain-352620">coronavirus</a>-related deaths recorded by Saturday.

European nations with a total population of over 450 million will officially begin the vaccination campaign on Sunday, December 27 as announced by the EU as France, Germany, Italy and other nations begin their campaign to win against the virus.

"We'll get our freedom back, we'll be able to embrace again," Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said as he urged citizens to get the vaccine shot.

Most European nations are under partial lockdown amid Christmas and Boxing day even as Britain announced last week that it had detected a new coronavirus strain which had originated from South Africa.

The virus has led to the death of over 1.75 million people and infected over 80 million worldwide with the US being the worst-hit nation with the virus with over 330,340 deaths and over 18.7 million infected cases.

As European nations begin preparations to vaccinate citizens against coronavirus on Sunday, Hungary took the lead on Saturday ahead of the EU's December 27 date.

As European nations begin preparations to vaccinate citizens against coronavirus on Sunday, Hungary took the lead on Saturday ahead of the EU's December 27 date. Watch: Hungary had received its shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday morning and it almost immediately began inoculating health workers with the first vaccinations carried out at Budapest's main coronavirus centre, the Del-Pest Central hospital. Reports said at least three health workers had received the first dose of the vaccine on Saturday morning. Hungary has reported 315,362 coronavirus cases with 8,951 fatalities. Hungary administered the first vaccine shot to doctor Adrienne Kertesz at the Del-Pest Central hospital. The country is set to get vaccine consignments in the coming weeks with mass rollout due to take place in the first half of 2021. The country has been hard with the virus in the winter with 8,900 coronavirus-related deaths recorded by Saturday. European nations with a total population of over 450 million will officially begin the vaccination campaign on Sunday, December 27 as announced by the EU as France, Germany, Italy and other nations begin their campaign to win against the virus. "We'll get our freedom back, we'll be able to embrace again," Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said as he urged citizens to get the vaccine shot. Most European nations are under partial lockdown amid Christmas and Boxing day even as Britain announced last week that it had detected a new coronavirus strain which had originated from South Africa. The virus has led to the death of over 1.75 million people and infected over 80 million worldwide with the US being the worst-hit nation with the virus with over 330,340 deaths and over 18.7 million infected cases.

Hungary begins coronavirus vaccine rollout early as Europe prepares final battle against virus

As Europe grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, eastern Europe has become the new hotspot in the fight against the virus with the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and several other countries dominating the infection rates despite <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/i-miss-the-audience-a-french-performers-life-in-covid-lockdown-344457https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-biontech-apply-for-covid-19-vaccine-approval-in-us-344445">lockdown</a> measures.

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According to reports, eastern Europe reported over 82,000 cases in a one day an average last week with 1,500 daily fatalities. Europe has so far reported over 15 million <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pizza-boys-blatant-lie-leads-to-harshest-covid-19-lockdown-in-this-city-344283">coronavirus</a> cases with over 346,000 deaths.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadas-largest-city-toronto-to-be-on-covid-19-lockdown-starting-monday-344523">Also Read:&nbsp;Canada's largest city Toronto to be on COVID-19 lockdown starting Monday</a>

Europe is the worst-hit region with the virus with 264,100 daily COVID-19 cases surpassing the US and Canada which averaged 172,200 coronavirus cases per day.

Amid the rising number of cases, Polish PM Morawiecki asked citizens not to travel during Christmas as the country reported 574 deaths in 24 hours on Saturday with the number of daily infections rising to 24,213.

"Poles have weapons, they are discipline, solidarity. We have 100 days of solidarity ahead of us. At the end of this period, it is likely that a vaccine will appear," Morawiecki said, adding,"whether Poland will be able to find itself able to adopt less stringent restrictions will depend on whether or not Poles obey the rules."

Poland has imposed strict lockdown measures which is set to continue till after Christmas. Hungary had earlier extended state of emergency until February with COVID-19-related deaths and infections surging since September.

According to the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), Hungary has fourth-highest coronavirus death rate per million in the continent after the Czech Republic, Belgium and Bulgaria.

As Europe grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, eastern Europe has become the new hotspot in the fight against the virus with the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and several other countries dominating the infection rates despite lockdown measures.

As Europe grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, eastern Europe has become the new hotspot in the fight against the virus with the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and several other countries dominating the infection rates despite lockdown measures. Watch: According to reports, eastern Europe reported over 82,000 cases in a one day an average last week with 1,500 daily fatalities. Europe has so far reported over 15 million coronavirus cases with over 346,000 deaths. Also Read: Canada's largest city Toronto to be on COVID-19 lockdown starting Monday Europe is the worst-hit region with the virus with 264,100 daily COVID-19 cases surpassing the US and Canada which averaged 172,200 coronavirus cases per day. Amid the rising number of cases, Polish PM Morawiecki asked citizens not to travel during Christmas as the country reported 574 deaths in 24 hours on Saturday with the number of daily infections rising to 24,213. "Poles have weapons, they are discipline, solidarity. We have 100 days of solidarity ahead of us. At the end of this period, it is likely that a vaccine will appear," Morawiecki said, adding,"whether Poland will be able to find itself able to adopt less stringent restrictions will depend on whether or not Poles obey the rules." Poland has imposed strict lockdown measures which is set to continue till after Christmas. Hungary had earlier extended state of emergency until February with COVID-19-related deaths and infections surging since September. According to the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), Hungary has fourth-highest coronavirus death rate per million in the continent after the Czech Republic, Belgium and Bulgaria.

Eastern Europe becomes new COVID-19 hotspot as infections surge

After some relief in country's coronavirus cases, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban lifted some restrictions in the country, except&nbsp;Budapest. However, the Prime Minister has now urged the public to exercise caution and has warned against a second-wave of the coronavirus.

"The virus has not gone away, we have only won some time," Orban told state radio. "We have to prepare for a second wave (of the epidemic) in October-November."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-global-death-toll-passes-230000-confirmed-recoveries-hit-1-million-295999">Also read:&nbsp;Coronavirus global death toll passes 230,000; confirmed recoveries hit 1mn</a>

The government&nbsp;has allowed shops and restaurant terraces to reopen, but has directed the owners to close all shops and restaurants by 3pm, except the medical shops.

After a few days of allowing the businesses to reopen to help the crippling economy, he has now warned the country about a second-wave of coronavirus in October and November.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-not-man-made-or-genetically-modified-us-intelligence-community-295906">Also read |&nbsp;Coronavirus not man-made or genetically modified: US intelligence community</a>

He also informed the citizens that the restrictions in Budapest will not be lifted till the number of coronavirus cases and death toll decreases, the prime minister told state radio on Friday.

In the speech, he also assured people that the government's focus will be on creating more jobs for people who have lost their livelihood during the lockdown.&nbsp;He said his government would offer paid training and widen the public works programme, and the army will also start its recruitment phase.

According to the official figures released on Friday,&nbsp;Hungary has reported 2,863 positive cases, and 323 deaths.

After some relief in country's coronavirus cases, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban lifted some restrictions in the country, except Budapest. However, the Prime Minister has now urged the public to exercise caution and has warned against a second-wave of the coronavirus.

After some relief in country's coronavirus cases, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban lifted some restrictions in the country, except Budapest. However, the Prime Minister has now urged the public to exercise caution and has warned against a second-wave of the coronavirus. "The virus has not gone away, we have only won some time," Orban told state radio. "We have to prepare for a second wave (of the epidemic) in October-November." Also read: Coronavirus global death toll passes 230,000; confirmed recoveries hit 1mn The government has allowed shops and restaurant terraces to reopen, but has directed the owners to close all shops and restaurants by 3pm, except the medical shops. After a few days of allowing the businesses to reopen to help the crippling economy, he has now warned the country about a second-wave of coronavirus in October and November. Also read | Coronavirus not man-made or genetically modified: US intelligence community He also informed the citizens that the restrictions in Budapest will not be lifted till the number of coronavirus cases and death toll decreases, the prime minister told state radio on Friday. In the speech, he also assured people that the government's focus will be on creating more jobs for people who have lost their livelihood during the lockdown. He said his government would offer paid training and widen the public works programme, and the army will also start its recruitment phase. According to the official figures released on Friday, Hungary has reported 2,863 positive cases, and 323 deaths.

The virus has not gone away, we have only won some time: Hungarian PM warns people