Key facts
- Poland is appealing a Brussels court ruling.
- The ruling ordered Poland to accept 64 million undelivered COVID-19 vaccine doses from Pfizer.
- The ruling also ordered Poland to pay Pfizer €1.3 billion.
- Poland argues that the pandemic's end altered the deal's circumstances.
- Poland argues that Russia's invasion of Ukraine altered the deal's circumstances.
Poland has formally appealed a ruling from a Brussels court that compelled the nation to accept approximately 64 million undelivered COVID-19 vaccine doses from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The court also ordered Poland to pay Pfizer €1.3 billion as part of this decision. Warsaw's appeal is based on the argument that the conditions of the original contract have been significantly altered by subsequent global events. Specifically, Poland cites the official end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia as key factors that invalidate the necessity and terms of the vaccine deal. The appeal seeks to have the court's previous order overturned, thereby releasing Poland from both the financial obligation and the requirement to take possession of the vaccine doses.