Amiran Gamkrelidze: 70% of the population should be vaccinated by July if we want to stop the pandemic

The immunization plan stipulates that 70% of the population should be vaccinated by July of this year if we want to stop the pandemic, head of the National Center for Disease Control, Amiran Gamkrelidze said after the meeting of the Immunization Council.

He said the council today discussed the 2022 immunization plan. The plan concerns strengthening the communication campaign, the immunization incentive program. In addition, within the framework of the plan, it is envisaged to focus on vaccination with booster doses.

"This plan stipulates that 70% of the population should be vaccinated by July, i.e. in the first 6 months of the year, if we want to stop the pandemic, contain it and get out of the pandemic with relatively less damage, because both the international community and all experts agree that the end of pandemic goes on universal immunization.

Some recommendations are proposed regarding the strengthening of communication campaigns, the continuation of monetary incentives again and again, the provision of more information to the population, and most importantly, focus on boosterization, as the strongest factor in detaining Omicron is the third vaccine today, Omicron is characterized by a relatively high rate of reinfection. Numerous studies have shown that protection against infection is higher than 80% and also, of course, protection against hospitalization and mortality is also high if a person has a booster dose. Therefore, one of the main components of the plan is to focus more on the booster," said Amiran Gamkrelidze.