When you move to another country, your child's vaccinations don't “expire”: everything already done remains part of the vaccination history. The task is to align what has been done with the new country's schedule. In Georgia, the pediatrician does this together with you.
Where to start
The first step is to gather every vaccination document: the vaccination card, certificates, record extracts. What matters are the vaccine names (ideally the brand names or the names by active substance), the dates and the dose numbers. Photos of the stickers from the vaccination card also work if the originals stayed behind in another country.
Why countries' schedules differ
Each country builds its schedule around its epidemiological situation and the capacity of its healthcare system. So the set of vaccines, the ages and the intervals can differ: some vaccinations are given earlier or later in Georgia, some may not have existed in your previous country's schedule at all, and vice versa. Georgia follows a national schedule set by ministerial order №52/n of 13 July 2023.
How the doctor aligns the schedules
At the appointment the pediatrician matches the entries in your documents against Georgia's national schedule: marking which vaccinations already meet the schedule's requirements, which doses remain, and drawing up an individual plan with dates. The general principle of international guidance (WHO, CDC): started series are usually continued rather than restarted — missing an interval does not mean the series must begin from zero. The specific decisions are made by the doctor, based on the documents, your child's age and their condition.
If there are no documents
A lost vaccination card is a common situation. Depending on the circumstances, the doctor may suggest restoring the data through the facility where the vaccinations were given, or in some cases checking antibodies to specific infections to see whether protection exists. There is no single scenario for everyone: the plan is drawn up individually.
How not to lose the records again
- photograph the vaccination card and keep copies in the cloud and on your phone;
- ask for every vaccination to be entered into the card straight after it is given;
- when changing doctor or clinic, hand over copies of the records and keep the originals with you;
- store the card together with your child's other documents in one known place at home.
Practical steps in Batumi
- book an initial consultation with the pediatrician and bring all the vaccination documents you have;
- at the appointment the doctor will check the records against Georgia's schedule and draw up a plan;
- vaccinations are then given according to the plan, each one entered into your child's card;
- keep the vaccination card safe — it will be needed for kindergarten and school.