The Government of Georgia does not consider mandatory vaccination in the country, against the background of low vaccination rate. The infection rate and the daily death toll from the virus are still high.
Based on the experience of different countries, citizens cannot even use public transport without vaccination or PCR test. In addition to that, they cannot visit food facilities without the certificates of COVID vaccination proof.
The meetings of the Coordinating Council show that the Georgian government avoids making unpopular decisions. So, the government still declares that vaccination is voluntary and they do not have an intention to introduce a mandatory vaccination.
The fact that the government of our country avoids making unpopular decisions is well seen in the meetings of the Coordinating Council. The government again says that vaccination is voluntary and even in difficult epidemic conditions, even for certain groups, it has no intention of introducing a mandatory vaccination.
The National Center for Disease Control often notes that if the business decides on their own initiative to allow only vaccinated or tested users in their facility, the state should give them more freedom and incentive. At the same time, restaurants have expressed their willingness to act as so-called green zones if the state would exempt them from income tax.
“I expected that the issue of green zones would be considered at yesterday's coordination council, and that business facilities will be given the opportunity to reap certain benefits. This issue is still delayed. I think that the approach should be the same like the sport events, where only those citizens will be allowed, who have the certificate of COVID vaccination proof or PCR test. The same approach should be in our case. Otherwise, we will not be able to overcome the next waves of the virus, and there still be COVID-related restrictions,” said Shota Burjanadze, head of the Restaurant Association.
BM.GE asked the business if they were ready for a bold step to indirectly force consumers to get jabbed. The business notes, that when the state starts shooting arrows at the private sector and expects certain initiatives from them, it means escaping responsibility from the state.
"Business’ social responsibility is to work efficiently, create as many jobs as possible and mobilize many taxes in the budget. Those who manage these funds should spend them so effectively to have more vaccinated citizens and low death toll. We have both vaccinated and unvaccinated customers. We cannot force anyone," said Mikheil Parulava, head of Coffeesta.
