Czech Republic paid billions of crowns for unused COVID-19 vaccines
Since 2020, the Czech Republic has spent approximately 19 billion crowns on the purchase of vaccines against COVID-19. However, it has emerged that a large portion of these supplies was never used and ultimately had to be disposed of due to expiration.
According to available information, less than half of the purchased doses were consumed. The remaining vaccines that stayed in storage gradually expired. This situation raises questions regarding procurement planning during the pandemic, when the situation was changing rapidly and public interest in vaccination was gradually declining.
The state budget thus had to cover the costs of millions of doses that were not administered to patients. At the time, the government purchased vaccines through joint European procurement, which was intended to ensure a sufficient quantity for all citizens during the uncertain period of the virus's spread.
It is now becoming clear that the high costs of medical supplies that were not utilized represent a significant burden on public finances. The Ministry of Health views the situation as a consequence of a challenging period when the priority was to ensure the safety of the population at any cost.