A tranche of Covid-19 Vaccine for 20% of Geprgian population already purchased, Gamkrelidze says
By Liza Norwich-Gerwik
Thursday, October 29
The head of the National Center for Diseases, Amiran Gamkrelidze announced at the briefing held in the government’s administration that Georgia has already paid part of the price and transferred the amount of 4 million USD for the coronavirus vaccine, which will cover about 700,000 people's (20% of the population) vaccination.
“Georgia has already transferred the tranche of money. When the vaccine is received and approved by regulators, Georgia should receive it for about 20% of the population (700,000 people). The total cost is from $ 16 million to $ 17 million. The country has already transferred up to $ 4 million,” said Amiran Gamkrelidze.
As for the availability of the Covid-19 vaccine, the deputy head of the National Centre for Diseases Paata Imnadze stated that presumably, the vaccine will be available in the world by the end of the year and in Georgia by Spring 2021. The first countries to receive the vaccine will be manufacturer countries, according to Imnadze.
“There will be several vaccines available by the end of 2020. We know that China already has one vaccine, and there is a discussion about two other vaccines. In my opinion, it will first be available in manufacturer countries and for the rest of the countries by Spring 2021.”
According to Amiran Gamkrelidze, a large number of vaccines have been developed and are undergoing pre and post-clinical research. He said that there are about ten vaccines in the third phase, adding that only time will tell how effective it will be.
