PM: Only WHO-Authorized Vaccines will be Imported to Georgia
Only those vaccines that have authorization from the World Health Organization will be imported into the country, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated during Thursday's Cabinet meeting.
The Head of Government, in discussing the national action plan for vaccination, pointed out that all stakeholders took part in its development, including experts, international partners, field specialists, epidemiologists, doctors, the Public Defender, and others. The plan, which will be approved today, seeks to make sure that 60% of the population are vaccinated by the end of 2021.
“At the previous Cabinet meeting, the Health Ministry was instructed to finalize the national action plan for vaccination, to make sure that it is approved by today’s Cabinet meeting. The relevant working group was created on December 15 to bring together all stakeholders, including experts, international partners, field specialists, epidemiologists, doctors, the Public Defender, and others. And today we must review and approve this plan that seeks mainly to make sure that 60% of the population are vaccinated by the end of 2021,” Giorgi Gakharia said.
The PM noted that the highest-risk target groups will be vaccinated first.
“Alongside its key goal, equally important is the plan’s technical aspect, including timeframe and target groups to vaccinated in stages according to this timeframe. The highest-risk target groups will be vaccinated at the initial stage, meaning medical personnel, long-term care facility residents, our senior citizens aged 75 and over, and then all our citizens aged between 65 and 75,” Gakharia stated.
Technically, Georgia is ready to receive any authorized vaccine, the Head of Government added.
“The development of this plan is of key importance. Georgia, along with our European partners, is a member of the COVAX platform designed to supply countries with vaccines. Georgia, as early as 5-6 months ago, applied on this platform for 1.5 million vaccines in the nearest future. And we also transferred necessary financial resources. The key goal now is to make sure that our healthcare system is ready for vaccination of this magnitude in eth course of one year.
"Technically, Georgia is ready to receive any authorized vaccine. You must be aware of the importance of a cold chain and maintaining necessary temperatures in this process. Georgia is ready to receive vaccines in both technical terms and from the point of view of retrained medical personnel. This plan fully meets the present challenges, and we are, in fact, ready to start vaccinating in the foreseeable future.
"In addition, the Government continues bilateral negotiations with vaccine manufacturers, though there is one thing we must keep in mind. Only those vaccines that enjoy authorization from the World Health Organization will be imported into the country, and that is our and our European partners’ principled stance, which stands for looking after the safety and health of our citizens,” Giorgi Gakharia stated.