WARSAW/BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) – Polish Health Minister Adam Niedzielski is asking vaccine manufacturer Pfizer not to have to fulfill existing contracts. Despite a more stable health situation in the countries of the European Union, Pfizer plans to continue to deliver hundreds of millions of vaccine doses to Europe, which is pointless, according to a letter published on Tuesday and available to the German Press Agency in Brussels. Most would probably be destroyed because they only have a limited shelf life and the demand is not high.
Despite the best intentions to find a compromise, Pfizer is not willing to show flexibility and make realistic suggestions on how to deal with the changed situation. Pfizer’s current proposal, while requiring fewer doses, requires a cancellation fee of half the price of a dose that has not yet been produced.
The appeal falls within the Polish election campaign. In autumn, a new parliament will be elected in Germany’s neighboring country. The ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) started an advertising tour across the country in April. Health Minister Niedzielski does not personally belong to the PiS, but is non-party.
In his letter to Pfizer shareholders, he nonetheless underlines the ruling party’s foreign policy line: Solidarity is being concentrated on helping neighboring Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia, and making great sacrifices to do so. Pfizer should therefore behave just as morally and prioritize solidarity instead of striving for profit./mjm/DP/he
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