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Poland plans compensation for side effects from COVID-19 shots

13.01.2021 00:53
Poles who suffer health problems due to side effects from COVID-19 vaccines will be able to claim compensation, the country’s health minister has announced.
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak

Stressing that such adverse reactions were rare, Adam Niedzielski said anyone hospitalized for at least 14 days as a result of a shot would be eligible of compensation from PLN 10,000 (EUR 2,210, USD 2,695) to PLN 100,000.

Speaking on Tuesday, Niedzielski said that over 250,000 people had been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Poland so far, and only 37 adverse reactions had been reported.

“Of these, 32 were mild, four serious and one heavy,” he added.

The government has launched a media campaign to encourage Poles to get COVID-19 shots, while officials have been making efforts to reassure Poles that such vaccines are safe.

Six million doses of coronavirus vaccines will reach Poland by the end of March, according to the government spokesman.

The first batch of 10,000 doses arrived in the country on December 26. The next day a Warsaw hospital nurse became the first Pole to receive a shot.

Frontline healthcare workers are first in line to be inoculated, followed by pensioners in nursing homes, people over 70, police, soldiers and teachers.

Citizens over 70 will be able to sign up for COVID-19 shots from Friday.

(pk)

Source: PAP