Poland Refuses to Pay for More Covid Vaccines as Demand Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Poland is refusing to take or pay for more doses of Covid-19 vaccine under the European Union’s supply contract, stepping up its dispute with major drug makers.

The government late last week triggered a force majeure clause after failed attempts to renegotiate the deal with the EU’s executive and vaccine suppliers, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski told TVN24 news channel on Tuesday. 

Poland has seen lower vaccine uptake than most of the EU, leaving the government with surplus stock. Niedzielski said the country had already donated or sold almost 30 million vaccine doses, but demand has fallen recently as the pandemic subsided globally.

Poland, which is set to receive 67 million doses this year, sought to spread the deliveries over 10 years and pay only for those it has received.

“It’s a major financial burden,” Niedzielski said. “Poland is facing serious financial strains related to the influx of refugees.”

Poland has been in talks with Pfizer and expects more flexibility in negotiations planned with other vaccine makers in coming days and weeks, Niedzielski said. Other suppliers under the contract negotiated by the European Commission include Moderna Inc.,  Johnson & Johnson, Novavax Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc.

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