The Pfizer vaccine may be the first vaccine Georgia uses to combat the coronavirus in the near future, Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze said.
"The Pfizer vaccine could be the first vaccine we receive, followed by the AstraZeneca vaccine - the two closest we can get through the Covax platform," First Deputy Health Minister Tamar Gabunia said.
Gabunia noted that in the long run, it will be technologically easier for Georgia to get a vaccine that needs to be kept at 2 to 8 degrees and does not need to be kept at 70 degrees of celsius, which is Pfizer. She said that taking into account this, storing AstraZeneca will be technologically simpler.
Khunadadze noted that at this stage the country has the opportunity to store this type of vaccine for about 100,000 citizens as the needed infrastructure for keeping this vaccine are in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi only.
Khundadze noted that on January 18, countries including Georgia will submit an application to Covax, which must reflect the interest and desire to use the vaccine.
"On January 19-28, the WHO and UNICEF will consider applications for a vaccine introduction plan submitted by the country. At the end of the month there will be the first stage regarding distribution decisions. We hope that Georgia will be in the leading position and we will get the vaccine quickly," said Khundadze.
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is used in the USA, UK, Canada, and the EU. It is approved by the World Health Organization.
Deputy Health Minister Tamar Gabunia said yesterday that at this level only Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines are considered to be brought in Georgia, Agenda.ge reported.
