People over 45 to be eligible for AstraZeneca
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Wednesday, May 12
Deputy Minister of Health Tamar Gabunia says that Georgia is now at the peak stage of the coronavirus epidemic.
"The average rate ranges from 1,500 to 2,000. To some extent, it is good that there is no drastic growth. Based on international modelling, we can say that we are already in the peak period of the third wave, which is expected to last for two weeks,” Gabunia said. At this stage, up to 6000 beds are mobilized in the country, more than 2800 of them- in Tbilisi.
Since the detection of the first case of coronavirus in Georgia, 324,256 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus have been detected, out of which 4,336 people have died. According to stopcov.ge, 1788 cases of coronavirus were detected in the last 24 hours and 31 people have died. The positive daily indicator is 5.76%.
As for the vaccination, according to the head of the National Center for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze, the demand for vaccines exceeds the country’s supply. Gamkrelidze added that 358 thousand doses of vaccine will be available in the country by the end of June. According to him, up to 67-68 thousand doses have already been used.
“To date, 161 brigades are deployed to 100 hospitals, but some brigades in the districts do not work on a daily basis. We want to increase this and switch to a 7-day work schedule and have 300 brigades by the end of June,” announced the NCDC head, noting that the capacity of each brigade is 42-50 per day, thus in July, the number of vaccines per day will be up to 15 000.
After the meeting of the Immunization Council it was also announced that the age of vaccination with AstraZeneca in Georgia has been reduced to 45 years and registration will open for them on May 12 at 20:00.
As Gabunia informed, the registration for the second dose of Sinopharm will open at the same time and the vaccination process will start on May 25. For full vaccination, two doses should be taken at 21-28 day intervals.
Doses of Chinese coronavirus vaccine Sinopharm in Georgia are virtually exhausted, and the remaining doses will be used by strategic groups. 100 thousand doses of vaccine imported into the country was enough for 50 thousand people. A large bunch of the Sinopharm vaccine, about 40,000 doses, has already been used or booked, and 10,000 doses will be used by strategic groups, such as the police and penitentiary systems as well as the media and the tourism sector. As of now, vacant places for vaccination with Sinopharm are left in only three regions: Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti and Samtskhe-Javakheti.
Recall that following an evaluation by experts from the Strategic Advisory Group (SAGE), the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of the Chinese vaccine Sinopharm in people aged 18+.
Besides, the Immunization Council supported the launch of vaccination with Sinovac before the approval of the WHO. 100,000 doses of Sinovac were gifted by China.
Starting May 13, the regulations on the functioning of all institutions and public transport will be lifted, educational and training institutions will resume their normal work, as well as the movement of municipal transport will be allowed.
At this stage, the restriction on movement during the night hours from 21:00 to 05:00 remains in force. Gabunia says that the issue of transferring the curfew time will be discussed only after the virus rate in the country is no longer at its peak. The curfew has been in force since November 28, fine is GEL 2000.
