Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze has announced that Georgia will continue using AstraZeneca vaccine despite the recent case of an alleged complication following vaccination in Akhaltsikhe.
Tikaradze said at a news briefing that the AstraZeneca vaccine is a safe vaccine the benefits of which overweight the possible risks.
"The AstraZeneca vaccine rollout will continue in Georgia without delay," Agenda.ge cited Tikaradze as saying.
Yesterday a 27-year-old nurse developed an alleged anaphylactic reaction after receiving the first shot of AstraZeneca vaccine. Healthcare experts had gathered immediately to assess the case and decide whether to temporarily suspend vaccination with AstraZeneca vaccine in Georgia.
The Georgian nurse, who remains in critical condition, was delivered to the First University Clinic in Tbilisi. Prior to the accident she had encouraged everyone to get vaccinated and thus protect themselves from the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) safety committee concluded its preliminary review confirming that the benefits of the vaccine in combating Covid-19 ‘continue to outweigh the risk of side effects’.
Georgia received the first 43,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine on March 13. Vaccination of health workers started on March 15 throughout Georgia.
