If you live in Georgia or have recently moved here with a child, vaccination is one of the first questions to come up: which system to use, which documents are needed, and what happens to the old records. Let's work through it in order.
How vaccination works in Georgia
Georgia operates a national immunisation schedule. It is set by ministerial order №52/n of 13 July 2023, which replaced the earlier order №01-60/n. The schedule defines which infections children are vaccinated against in this country, and at what ages.
A detailed look at the schedule itself — which vaccines are included and at what intervals — is in a separate article in our reference guide. Here we cover the practical side: documents, preparation and planning.
The immunisation schedule is a living document and is revised from time to time. So rely not on tables found on the internet but on the current version of the schedule and the plan the doctor draws up from your child's documents.
Are vaccinations compulsory?
Formally, vaccination in Georgia is voluntary: parents decide. In practice, kindergartens and schools usually ask for the child's vaccination record at enrolment, so keep the records of completed vaccinations carefully. The paperwork for kindergarten and school is covered in detail in our article on medical certificates.
Where to get vaccinated
Vaccinations in Georgia are given in both state and private medical facilities. In every case a pediatrician's examination comes first: the doctor makes sure the child is well, checks the vaccination history and answers the parents' questions.
At our clinic vaccination follows a pediatric consultation. Every vaccination given is entered into the child's vaccination record — these entries will be needed for kindergarten, school and when seeing other doctors.
Which documents you will need
- your child's vaccination card or certificate with all previous vaccinations;
- if vaccinations were done in another country — any documents showing the vaccine names and dates;
- details of any past reactions to vaccinations;
- medical documents about chronic conditions — the doctor will take them into account when planning.
If some records are lost — don't postpone the visit. The doctor will help reconstruct the picture from the documents you do have and, where needed, suggest a plan of next steps.
How to prepare for a vaccination
Before vaccination your child must be well: no temperature, runny nose or other signs of an acute illness. Tell the doctor about anything that worries you and about how your child tolerated previous vaccinations. After vaccination it is usually recommended to stay near the clinic for a while — the doctor will give you the exact advice.