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EU and WHO donate 300 refrigerators to support Georgia’s vaccination process

Yesterday, the European Union and the WHO donated 300 medical refrigerators and a specialized vaccine-carrier vehicle to the Government of Georgia. This is part of ongoing EU support for Georgia to help the country deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout process, including among vulnerable groups.

Mr. Catalin Gherman, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Georgia, Ms. Tamar Gabunia, First Deputy-Minister of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia (MoIDPLHSA) and Dr. Silviu Domente, WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office in Georgia visited the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC&PH) to hand over the equipment.

At the event, Catalin Gherman, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Georgia, stated, “In a long line of deliveries of equipment, medication, tests, and more, these 300 refrigerators is another step in the EU’s efforts to help Georgia successfully dealing with and overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. Together with our partners in the WHO, we stand with the Georgian people and remain committed to strengthening the Georgian healthcare system.”

“The European Union and the World Health Organization are helping us tremendously in the fight against COVID-19. Today, they donated medical refrigerators and a specialized vaccine-carrier vehicle, which will simplify the process of safely delivering quality vaccines. The EU and WHO are our committed partners in terms of planning and implementation of the vaccination program. I would like to thank them once again, ” – said Tamar Gabunia, First Deputy-Minister of Health of Georgia.

Today’s handover is part of the assistance provided by EU and WHO to the Government of Georgia. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the EU and WHO have worked together to ensure an effective response to the current COVID-19 crisis and strengthen overall preparedness capacities of health sector in Georgia. Besides the EU’s and WHO’s support to the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in Georgia, joint efforts include the provision of necessary supplies, development of software and mobile applications, training of key personnel involved in vaccinations, monitoring of vaccine efficacy and safety, and development and implementation of a nationwide communication campaign to promote vaccinations and to address vaccines hesitancy.

 “The provided equipment will help Georgia reach the WHO and national vaccination targets, by bringing the vaccines closer to the population, especially to those living in rural and remote areas,”  says Silviu Domente, WHO Representative and Head of Country Office in Georgia.

This assistance is part of a wider support package provided by the EU and Team Europe consisting of GEL 1.5 billion of new and reallocated assistance to help Georgia deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, including support to vulnerable groups and economic recovery. That is one of the highest levels of EU assistance per capita to any country in the world and demonstrates the EU’s strong solidarity with Georgia at this time of unprecedented crisis.

Additional information can be found here:

  • Find out more about the EU’s assistance to Georgia’s COVID-19 response here
  • Stay updated via the interactive dashboards on the latest COVID-19 statistics WHO HQ; WHO/Europe; these provide real-time, in-depth information on the situation.

For further information, please contact: