Czechia spent CZK 19 billion on Covid vaccines, but only used half of them

Czechia has spent roughly CZK 19 billion on Covid-19 vaccines since the start of the pandemic, but fewer than half of the 41 million doses purchased have been used, according to Health Ministry data.

More than 18 million doses, worth about CZK 8 billion, had to be destroyed after expiring. Around 4 million additional doses were donated to other countries, while demand for Covid vaccination in Czechia has fallen sharply in recent years.

The country is now preparing for another vaccination season, with 900,000 doses available from September. Longer-term arrangements for Covid vaccines are still being negotiated.

Czechia's current supply is the final batch secured under a European joint purchasing agreement made during the early stages of the pandemic. The Health Ministry said it is negotiating with vaccine manufacturers, health insurers and medical organizations over how vaccines will be provided and paid for from the 2027-28 season onward.

Those discussions will consider the cost-effectiveness of vaccination as well as expected public demand, Health Ministry spokesman Martin Novotný said.

The scale of unused supplies reflects how quickly vaccination demand changed. More than 15 million doses were administered during the first year when vaccines became widely available. The following year, demand fell to about one-fifth of that level.

Between 2022 and 2023, demand dropped by more than 80%, followed by declines of roughly one-third in each subsequent year.

Only about 1,500 doses had been administered in Czechia through July 26 this year. Most vaccinations typically take place during the autumn and winter months, however, so demand is expected to increase with the start of the new season in September.

The European Commission approved an updated version of Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty vaccine in late July and early August for the 2026-27 season. The formulation targets the XFG variant while also producing an immune response against other circulating types of the virus.

Roman Chlíbek, chairman of the Czech Society for Vaccinology, said regular updates to Covid vaccines are similar to the annual adjustments made to influenza vaccines.

"Vaccination remains the most effective option for preventing severe Covid, hospitalization and death in people at risk," Chlíbek said on the society's website.

The Health Ministry said the large vaccine purchases made during the pandemic were driven by considerable uncertainty over how the epidemic would develop, how frequently people would need booster shots and how much demand there would be. Authorities also sought to ensure sufficient supplies if the health situation deteriorated.

The ministry is now taking a more demand-focused approach as it considers future procurement and financing.