According to Ivane Chkhaidze, Medical Director and Professor at Iashvili Children’s Central Hospital, unlike previous years, Georgia will receive a three-component influenza vaccine this year, which has an 80% efficacy rate among the pediatric population.

As Chkhaidze noted, last year the country used a four-component influenza vaccine, containing two components targeting type A influenza viruses and two targeting type B viruses. However, the type B virus included in the vaccine had recently stopped causing illness.

“The only difference compared with last year is that a three-component vaccine will be introduced in the country. It contains two components targeting type A influenza viruses and one component targeting type B viruses. Last year, it was a four-component vaccine, with two type A and two type B components. However, the type B virus included in that vaccine has recently stopped causing disease.

According to recommendations from the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a three-component vaccine is recommended. This vaccine has an efficacy rate of 80% among the pediatric population,” Chkhaidze said in an interview with Mediacenter Mtavari.