Poland appeals court order to pay Pfizer 1.3 billion euros for undelivered COVID-19 vaccines

Poland has lodged an appeal against a Brussels court ruling that mandates the country to pay approximately 1.3 billion euros to Pfizer for refusing to accept COVID-19 vaccine doses. The court initially ordered Poland to take delivery of around 64 million vaccine doses, a decision Warsaw contests.

The Polish Ministry of Health stated that the initial ruling failed to take into account all pertinent factual and legal elements of the case. The ministry has pledged to utilize all available legal avenues to defend its position, though it has not publicly disclosed the specific arguments underpinning its appeal, citing the need to protect state interests.

The dispute stems from a contract negotiated in 2021 by the European Commission on behalf of EU member states. In 2022, Poland declined further vaccine deliveries, asserting that demand had significantly decreased post-pandemic and that the war in Ukraine had altered national budget priorities. This refusal led Pfizer to initiate legal action against Poland and Romania in 2023.

In April 2026, the Brussels court ruled that Warsaw was obligated to honor the contract and pay the substantial sum, plus interest and legal costs. Pfizer, in its defense, has stated that the court's decision underscores the importance of contractual obligations in the EU's pandemic response and inter-member state solidarity. The company maintains that legal measures are necessary to ensure contract compliance, following years of discussions and significant flexibility offered to member states.