Janusz Kochanowski, Poland's ombudsman for civil rights, has submitted a motion to the prosecutor against Health Minister Ewa Kopacz regarding the lack of availability of an A/H1N1 flu vaccine.

Mr Kochanowski claims that the Health Minister has not fulfilled her duties when it comes to protecting the country against the virus. Ms Kopacz has so far refused to buy large supplies of the vaccine, saying its long-term effects on children and pregnant women are still unknown.

According to Mr Kochanowski, the prosecutor should investigate “who or what it is that has caused the fact that Poland is not ready to battle the flu and what should be done in order to avoid such a scenario in the future.”

Mr Kochanowski went on to described the health minister's actions as unclear and unacceptable. “We do not have a plan to fight the pandemic. The government is denying us the right to information and access to the vaccine. Therefore, the right to [make a] choice is being violated, that those who want to can receive the vaccination even for their own money,” he said, adding that the virus has recently caused 24 deaths in Poland.

Sources: Gazeta Wyborcza, Rzeczpospolita