Georgia spent only 36.2% of its allocated vaccination budget during the first nine months of the year, Deputy Health Minister Irina Tsakadze said during a parliamentary discussion of the budget execution report. MP Ketevan Bakaradze questioned whether the low spending rate was caused by public reluctance to get vaccinated or insufficient awareness campaigns by the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC).
Tsakadze explained that the vaccination budget covers more than routine childhood immunization, including seasonal flu shots, HPV vaccines and other additional vaccination programs. She acknowledged the low execution rate but said it should be considered in the context of the broader immunization program.
One of the main reasons for the low spending, she said, is the availability of existing vaccine stocks previously supplied by UNICEF. Since some vaccines remain in storage and are being used gradually, new purchases have not always been necessary. She also noted that some payments for services delivered in the third quarter will be processed in the fourth quarter, potentially increasing the execution rate.
Addressing concerns about public awareness, Tsakadze rejected claims that the NCDC had failed to conduct sufficient information campaigns. She said awareness-raising activities are ongoing in cooperation with municipalities, while mobile medical teams visit communities and provide services to people unable to reach healthcare facilities.
