SOCIETY
GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 27 - 30, 2015
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New 6-in-1 Vaccine Now Available for Georgians BY EKA KARSAULIDZE
Teimuraz Murgulia, Deputy Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia with Shombi Sharp, Deputy Head of UNDP in Georgia at a Georgian pre-Paris Climate Change Conference
UNDP Holds Climate Change Conference BY MERI TALIASHVILI
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rior to the Paris Climate Change Conference to be held from November 30 to December 1 in France, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia organized a conference with the assistance of the United Nations Development Program in Georgia (UNDP) to discuss Georgia’s plans and how it will respond to climate change challenges.
The Conference was opened by the Deputy Head of UNDP in Georgia, Shombi Sharp, and the Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia, Teimuraz Murgulia, and was attended by representatives of government, civil societies and international organizations. “Climate change is one of the core development challenges the world is facing in terms of sustainable development,” said Shombi Sharp. “Georgia is a very exceptional country in many ways but unfortunately not exceptional to the threats and impacts of climate change. According to the available data,
the impacts of climate change are already quite severe and growing within the Southern Caucasus region. So we must come together to take action.” Georgia, as a responsible member of the international community, is going to take part in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris in December 2015 and contribute to this process. A high-level delegation from Georgia will be led by the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. The Convention aims to achieve the universal agreement on climate for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations.
Invitation to Participate in the Sales Procedures Announced by the Embassy of the Republic of France in Georgia on the Sale of 3933 sq/m Land Plot Located in the Center of Tbilisi The Embassy of the Republic of France in Georgia has announced a Sales Procedures on the sale of land plot located adjacent to the Rustaveli Avenue at 4 Khazina St., Tbilisi, Georgia. The land plot has the following characteristics: cadastral code – 01.15.04.007.010; total area of the land plot - 3933 sq/m. The land plot qualifies as type 2 recreational zone with the following coefficients: K1= [0,2], K2=[undefined] and K3=[Undefined]. Please, take into account that the Sales Procedures n will be conducted in accordance with the Rules for Submission of Offers available on the web-page of the Embassy: ambafrance-ge.org, or by e-mail request at contact.tbilissi-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr. The interested Parties shall submit their Expression of Interest in a form and to the addressee(s) envisaged in the Rules for Submission of Offers. In case of additional questions, please, contact [the consul or hes representative] at the following e-mail [contact.tbilissi-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr] or call at [(00 995 32) 272 14 90] from Monday to Friday from 9:30 AM till 12:30 PM. The Expression of Interest shall be submitted to the Contact Person indicated above no later than 15th of October 2015.
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eorgia has entered a new phase of immunization with vaccination for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (acellular, component), Hepatitis B (rDNA), Poliomyelitis (inactivated) and Haemophilus Influenzae Type B now available in just one injection. Representatives of Sanofi Pasteur introduced the innovative Hexaxim (DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib) vaccine, which will simplify the process of vaccination of newborn children and totally meet government standards. According to recent changes in the State Vaccination Schedule of Georgia, this vaccine will be available free of charge for all the country’s beneficiaries from December 1. The State immunization budget must increase by approximately 80% for the purchase of Hexaxim. Despite the fact that this is seriously damaging to the State budget, representatives of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) of Georgia said that it is well worth it. “Vaccination saves 2-3 million children’s lives every year,” said Dr. Lia Chabidze, Head of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia. “With this new Hexaxim vaccine, you will be able to get just one injection instead of two, as it was in the past, and protect your child against six infectious diseases. Hexaxim can be given to children from six weeks of age as a part of State Vaccination Schedule.”
“As in all developed countries, children in Georgia take their doze of vaccination against DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib. It is clear that injecting this number of monovalent vaccines is irrational. Therefore, we will now use a modern combination of vaccines, which is endorsed by the World Health Organization,” she added. Sanofi Pasteur representatives offered six advantages to the Hexaxim vaccine: it guarantees a high level of protection, it is safe, children undergo less stress due to fewer injections, it is easy to use and can be taken along with other vaccinations, and, most importantly, you can absolutely trust Sanofi Pasteur’s products. Hexaxim has been available since 2013
Photo of the Hexaxim vaccine from www. sanofipasteur.com
and is used in leading European countries including Germany, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Croatia, and Poland. Georgia is now the first country in the region to include it as a part of the State program. The vaccine received a positive scientific evaluation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in June 2012 as part of a procedure designed to evaluate medicinal products intended for markets outside the European Union.