Foreigners to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Poland

The first shipment of 10,000 Pfizer’s vaccines arrived in Poland on the second day of Christmas. As part of the initial rollout plan, healthcare workers across the country are now getting inoculated against COVID-19. It is expected that Poland will receive around 1.5 million doses of the two-step vaccine by the end of January and will soon start its three-phase distribution plan. According to the Polish government, the next in line to get the vaccine will be the following groups:

• Phase 1 - residents at nursing homes and residential care facilities, people aged 60 and over, uniformed services, teachers
• Phase 2 - people under 60 with chronic diseases that increase the risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19, people undergoing diagnostic testing or medical treatment which require frequent visits to healthcare facilities, essential workers who keep the country functioning and are particularly exposed to the virus through everyday interactions
• Phase 3 - those working in businesses that have been subject to closures or restrictions due to COVID-19, the rest of the adult population

It has also been announced that foreigners who reside in Poland (i.e. have a temporary or a permanent residence permit) will get access to the vaccine on the same terms as Polish citizens. No other documents (such as work permits) will be required to receive an injection, the Chancellery of the Polish Prime Minister has said.

The COVID-19 vaccine will not be mandatory in Poland. Once you receive an invitation you will be able to book an appointment to receive the first injection. The second dose will be administered to you at least three weeks later.

So far Poland has purchased the total number of 62 million vaccine doses from five different producers, including more than 16 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.