An analysis by POLITICO reveals that European Union (EU) countries have discarded at least 215 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, purchased at the height of the pandemic, costing taxpayers an estimated €4 billion. The analysis, based on data from 19 European countries, suggests an average waste rate of 0.7 doses per person, with Estonia and Germany topping the scale.
The real number of discarded vaccines is likely higher, as the figures are conservative and date back to December 2022, with some as recent as June 2023. Germany, for instance, reported vaccine waste figures in June, but at that time had an additional 120 million vaccines in storage. The estimated value of the wasted vaccines exceeds €4 billion, and the repercussions extend beyond finances. Questions about the negotiation of a major Pfizer contract have plagued EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and some EU countries, like Poland and Hungary, face lawsuits for refusing vaccine deliveries. The revised contract with Pfizer commits European countries to vaccine purchases until at least 2027.
