This chapter provides evidence that population health in the Emerging European Economies
(EEE) lagged behind the EU average before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. We then
assess the direct health impacts of the pandemic in the EEE and how they differed
from other European countries. We also offer early evidence on Covid-19 vaccination
rates in the EEE.We analyse the policy responses of governments to mitigate the consequences
of the Covid-19 shock and discuss the pandemic’s indirect impacts on health and social
security. Finally, we draw conclusions for health policy.
