Georgian doctors, scientists sound alarm over low vaccination rates

Georgian doctors and scientists raise alarm over the low vaccination rates in the country. The vaccination rate in Georgia is alarmingly low and everything must be done to urgently remedy the situation, their joint statement reads.

According to it, all approved vaccines reduce the severity of the disease and mortality from all strains of the coronavirus.

“Neither the government, nor doctors, nor science and technology, nor the population can defeat the Covid-19 pandemic alone”, the statement says

With regard to the pandemic, doctors and scientists emphasize the following:

• The only way to defeat the pandemic is through mass vaccinations and personal safety measures.
• The vaccine is safe and protects us from death and severe disease, as evidenced by the minimization of hospitalizations and deaths, given the experience of 3.5 billion vaccinations in the world.
• Any available vaccine that is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, or the World Health Organization can be used.
• One should keep in mind that after a vaccine made using the classic Chinese technology it is also possible to use the vaccine produced using the new technology as a “booster”.
• By getting vaccinated, we protect not only ourselves but also the people around us, especially children and those who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons.
• Any information about Covid 19 and vaccination that is not based on reliable scientific publications is misinformation.
• The lower the vaccination rate, the higher the likelihood of the virus mutating and the emergence of new variants and waves that are happening now and will occur in the future if we do not reduce the infection rate.
• Vaccination rates in Georgia are alarmingly low and everything needs to be done to remedy the situation immediately.
• “We are ready to give you detailed and scientifically substantiated answers to all your questions”, the appeal says.

• EU’s updated safe travel list includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, but not Georgia
• Sharp rise of Covid-19 cases may be caused by the spread of Delta coronavirus variant

In early July, the Deputy Minister of Health announced that Georgia could enter the fourth major wave of the coronavirus pandemic. On top of that, the number of infected children in the country is growing – about 200 children’s beds mobilized in Tbilisi, which were practically unclaimed during the second and third waves of the pandemic, are fully occupied. The number of infected children has already exceeded 300.

The delta strain circulates in Georgia by 20-30%, and this figure will increase even more, said Amiran Gamkrelidze, director of the National Center for Disease Control.

The vaccination program began on March 15 in Georgia and is progressing slowly. As of July 20, 368,179 vaccinations had been made, with 132,207 people fully vaccinated.

At this point, four vaccines are being supplied to the country – the German-American Pfizer, the British AstraZeneca, as well as the Chinese Sinopharm, and Sinovak.