The case of unclaimed vaccines. Dispute with a pharmaceutical giant for PLN 6 billion

According to information from Rynek Zdrowia, a case is being brought before the court in Brussels regarding unclaimed COVID-19 vaccines. Pfizer is demanding payment for the preparations that Poland refused to accept in 2022. New vaccines would not be used. The stake in the dispute is up to PLN 6 billion, the portal reported on Monday.

The Pfizer-Polska trial begins on January 21, 2026, before the court of first instance in Brussels, the portal reported. According to information from Rynek Zdrowia, the hearing is to last six days. The article emphasizes that formally this is the second meeting before the court, but in fact the first one regarding the merits. “Previously, only procedural issues were discussed,” the portal writes.

According to the portal, the money reserved to pay the American giant is no longer available.

The portal reminded that this concerns the events of April 12, 2022 – at that time, the Republic of Poland, represented by the Ministry of Health, informed Pfizer Inc. and the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety that it would not accept the delivery of vaccines, and cited a number of legal arguments and factual circumstances to support its position. It wasn't about effectiveness – experts agreed that vaccines had saved millions of lives – it was about oversupply.

Thus, the contract from May 2021 was terminated. Poland then, together with other European countries, signed an agreement to receive a specific number of vaccines. Initially, there were 900 million doses (and another 900 million for a potential next order), but ultimately 1.1 billion doses worth over EUR 21 billion (approx. PLN 90 billion) were contracted. (PAP)

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