Poland has to this point paid out 700,000 zloty (€151,000) in compensation to 40 individuals who have suffered unwanted side effects from receiving COVID-19 vaccines, with the very best single payout amounting to 87,000 zloty (€18,800). Tons of extra claims are at the moment being processed.
On the finish of 2020, when Poland and different EU nations had simply begun rolling out the vaccines, the Polish authorities introduced that it will arrange a fund to compensate anybody who suffered unfavorable results from having the jab.
The goal was, mentioned Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, to “encourage folks to vaccinate” at a time when Poland has a few of Europe’s highest charges of scepticism in direction of the vaccine, in response to polls.
Unvaccinated and proud: why Poland’s highlanders are refusing to get jabbed
The fund lastly began operation three months in the past, studies Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, and it has already acquired 880 functions, in response to the commissioner for sufferers’ rights, Bartłomiej Chmielowiec. Poland has administered over 54 million Covid vaccine doses.
Thus far, Chmielowiec’s workplace has initiated proceedings in 418 of these circumstances, which have resulted in 40 constructive selections on compensation.
Of these, half noticed sufferers endure anaphylactic shocks and the opposite half had been extra severe circumstances wherein sufferers had been hospitalised for no less than 14 days, together with one with Guillain–Barré syndrome. One affected person was in hospital for 118 days.
That complete paid out to these people is round 700,000 zloty, Chmielowiec advised Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, with the very best single payout being 87,000 zloty. For sufferers who suffered anaphylactic shock, the usual cost is 3,000 zloty in the event that they needed to go to an emergency room and 10,000 zloty in the event that they had been hospitalised.
Poland to create compensation fund for Covid vaccine unwanted side effects
An additional 57 circumstances put ahead by the commissioner’s workplace have to this point been rejected, whereas in 298 situations the workplace itself determined to not provoke proceedings as a result of they didn’t meet the fundamental standards for compensation.
Regardless of issues over vaccine scepticism, Poland’s rollout initially proceeded at roughly the identical price because the European Union common. Nevertheless, from the summer time of 2021, registration for vaccinations dropped considerably and Poland fell effectively behind western European nations.
Round 59% of Poland’s inhabitants is now totally vaccinated in comparison with an EU-wide determine of 73%
Principal picture credit score: Spencer Davis/Pixabay
Alicja Ptak is senior editor at Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist. She beforehand labored for Reuters.
