The Approach to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Georgia—A Health Policy Analysis

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze key COVID-19 pandemic-related policies and national strategic responses in light of Georgia’s political, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.Methods: We applied a policy triangle framework for policy analysis, performed document and media content analysis, and described pandemic trends statistically.Results: Early introduction of stringent restrictive measures largely prevented a first wave in March–May 2020. This was communicated as a success story, prompting a public success perception. With unpopular restrictions lifted and hesitancy to embrace evidence-informed policymaking ahead of nationwide parliamentary elections, SARS-CoV-2 infection spread rapidly and was met with an insufficiently coordinated effort. Facing health system capacity saturation an almost complete lockdown was re-introduced in late 2020. Factors as delayed immunization campaign, insufficient coordination and, again, little evidence-informed policymaking eventually led to another devastating COVID-19 wave in summer of 2021.Conclusion: Georgia’s pandemic health policy response was adversely impacted by a volatile political environment. National pandemic preparedness and response might benefit from an independent body with appointment procedures and operations shielded from political influences to effectively inform and communicate evidence-based pandemic policy.

Correlation of geopolitics, education, democracy with COVID-19 vaccination rate

“…According to a paper Georgia had delayed immunization campaign, insufficient coordination, little evidence-informed policymaking, no effective measures were taken to tackle disinformation (disinformation mainly was spread by far-right groups having ties with Russian federation), and including politically driven management of the pandemic ended in Georgia having one of the worst vaccination rates and one of the highest death rates per 1-million population [Table 1 ] [ 23 ]. Apart from the low vaccine coverage, the latter can also be attributed to bad patient management, which was mainly caused by bad remote management, due to failure of governmental hot-line, and overload of the healthcare system; The hospitalization rate was up to 15.1%– out of 1 660 249 laboratory-confirmed cases, 250 113 patients had been hospitalized, while a private telehealth clinic managed to maintain significantly lower numbers in regards to hospitalization (0.89% during omicron variant domination and 2.48% during delta variant domination) [ 24 ].…”

Genetic Analysis and Epidemiological Impact of SARS-CoV-2: A Multinational Study of 1000 Samples Using RT-PCR

“…The sample size with a finite population correction was calculated to be 385. To further categorize and classify patients based on clinical criteria, our study aligned with the interim guidance provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) [13]. Patients who exhibited pneumonia-like symptoms, irrespective of whether they presented with imaging findings, were classified as having symptoms consistent with COVID-19.…”