Pharma giant Pfizer is making more enemies, this time in Poland, as the nation refuses to sign up to the “cash cow” COVID-19 vaccine deals negotiated on its behalf by the European Union (EU).
The EU announced its deal with Pfizer last week, with the corporate multinational demanding cash for undelivered doses – a part of the deal that Polish Health Minister Adam Niedzielski called “outrageous.”
“The conditions negotiated by the Commission on behalf of the member states with Pfizer are absolutely unsatisfying, and we are not going to join the deal,” Niedzielski said.
The Eastern European nation has been attempting to renegotiate its pandemic-era deals for some time, citing mounting costs, undelivered doses, and a lack of flexibility by providers. The pharma behemoth appears to be shrugging the matter off, citing its prior contracts, especially with the unelected and unaccountable European Commission.
The pressure, however, might be mounting, with Hungary, Romania, and Lithuania expected to speak out in opposition to the EU’s deal with Pfizer being foisted on European tax payers.
Earlier this year, the European Parliament blocked transparency measures to shed more light on the relationship between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Pfizer, and its lobbyists.
