Czech PM appoints fourth health minister since start of pandemic

The move opens the way for the possible use of Russian and Chinese vaccines in one of Europe’s hardest-hit countries.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Wednesday installed his fourth health minister since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit the Czech Republic hard, amid growing pressure to seek vaccines from Russia and possibly also China. Petr Arenberger, the director of Prague’s University Hospital Vinohrady, replaced Jan Blatny and was sworn in by President Milos Zeman. Blatny had taken the job in October, just as COVID-19 infections were spiking in the Czech Republic.