Yes, the pandemic is over, but it has not disappeared anywhere, it is gradually weakening, but it is still relatively virulent than the flu virus, so vaccination against coronavirus will be necessary and there should be a vaccine in the country, - said the former head of the National Center for Disease Control, Amiran Gamkrelidze.

As Gamkrelidze said on PalitraNews, the current situation in the clinics is caused by flu and respiratory-syncytial viruses.

According to him, the age of children is vulnerable to flu and respiratory syncytial viruses, especially those under 5 years of age, as well as the elderly - over 60 years of age.

"Nothing unusual is happening. During the previous 3 years, coronavirus "suppressed" the influenza virus, today it is "on the forefront", mainly A-type and H1N1, which is known as the "swine flu", Gamkrelidze said.

According to him, the vaccine for the new strain of coronavirus has not been created yet, because the new strain appeared at the end of November, however, according to Gamkrelidze, there are new generation vaccines available in Western countries, but not in Georgia.

"Coronavirus vaccines that are in use have been changing periodically since 2012. A vaccine for the new strain has not yet been developed. The new strain appeared at the end of November, so there won't be a vaccine so soon. There are new generation vaccines against the previous substrains of Omicron. Also, they have immunity to the new strain because they are the "children" of Omicron. This vaccine is available in Western countries. Unfortunately, it is less available for Georgia. I know that we are working to make this vaccine accessible to Georgia as well", Gamkrelidze said.