Hungarian chocolatier's vaccine bunnies offer hope for Easter

Chocolate Easter bunnies holding syringes are seen in the workshop of the Hungarian confectioner Laszlo Rimoczi, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Lajosmizse, Hungary, March 9, 2021. Picture taken March 9, 2021. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

With spring and COVID-19 vaccines within sight, Hungarian confectioner Laszlo Rimoczi is sending a message of hope for Easter by creating chocolate bunnies holding vaccine syringes.

Rimoczi said the vaccines, made of fine Italian chocolate and sprinkled with silver food colouring powder, signalled there was a way out of the coronavirus pandemic.

Hungarian confectioner Laszlo Rimoczi poses with chocolate Easter bunnies holding syringes at his workshop, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Lajosmizse, Hungary, March 9, 2021. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Unlike his Christmas chocolate Santas, Rimoczi's bunnies no longer wear masks.

"There is no filling in the vaccines at all, it is just a 100% good quality Italian milk or dark chocolate," Rimoczi said as he moulded the chocolate vaccines in his small workshop in Lajosmizse, 70 km (45 miles) south of Budapest.

Rimoczi's business - he makes chocolate delicacies and sells them in a small shop in his house - suffered losses as the pandemic hit last year. His biggest hit yet were the masked Santas.

Chocolate Easter bunnies holding syringes are seen in the workshop of the Hungarian confectioner Laszlo Rimoczi, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Lajosmizse, Hungary, March 9, 2021. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

"For those who think ... I will ruin the good mood of children at Easter, I can do bunnies without vaccines as an alternative," Rimoczi added.

Rimoczi has registered in the government's vaccination programme and is looking forward to getting his real COVID-19 jab but is awaiting his call up from his family doctor.

(Writing by Krisztina Than and Krisztina Fenyo; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

Hungarian confectioner Laszlo Rimoczi works on a chocolate Easter bunny holding a syringe at his workshop, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Lajosmizse, Hungary, March 9, 2021. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Chocolate syringes are seen in the workshop of the Hungarian confectioner Laszlo Rimoczi, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Lajosmizse, Hungary, March 9, 2021. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo