No vaccine is truly mandatory for a stay in Georgia.

However, yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for travelers from countries where this disease is present, such as sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

Before any trip to Georgia, a vaccination program should be established based on two criteria:

- Administrative requirement: this corresponds to protecting the host country against

an infectious risk from outside.

- Actual risks faced by the traveler: These vary depending on the health situation of the visited country, the duration, the conditions of the stay, and the specific characteristics of the traveler, such as age and previous vaccinations received.

Thus, it is essential to ensure your vaccinations are up to date, two months before departure to avoid being caught off guard.

Recommended Vaccinations

If you plan to travel to a distant destination like Georgia, make sure your vaccination record is up to date.

Indeed, it is important to be protected against:

- DT Poliomyelitis,

- Diphtheria,

- Tuberculosis,

- Tetanus,

- Measles-Mumps-Rubella for children,

- Hepatitis A and B

- Pertussis.

In case of hiking in rural areas or forests, vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis, which is strongly recommended, is however a fairly complex procedure.

Over a period of 9 months, 3 injections must be administered.

Without vaccination, tick bites can cause other serious conditions, such as Crimean-Congo fever, Lyme disease, etc.

In addition to tick-borne encephalitis vaccination, the traveler should wear protective clothing, use repellents and check daily that no ticks are embedded in the skin.

Taking antibiotics, such as Doxycycline, is only necessary in the event of an inflammatory bite.

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for any trip to Georgia, regardless of the conditions of stay. It is particularly advised for people suffering from cystic fibrosis or a chronic liver condition.

However, people already infected are immune. A serological test, which involves searching for IgG-type antibodies, is performed before vaccination. This will help determine whether the person is protected or not.

Apart from the recommendations of the French vaccination calendar for children, hepatitis B vaccination is advised for travelers whose sexual behaviors are considered at risk. It is also recommended for intravenous drug users and for travelers traveling frequently to Georgia or for an extended stay.

As for malaria, Georgia is classified as a malaria-free zone. Since 2010, no confirmed cases of malaria have been reported on Georgian territory. Be aware, however, that from May to October, this is the period of seasonal transmission caused by mosquito bites, particularly in the eastern part of Georgia, on the border with Azerbaijan. Vaccination is the best way to prevent and protect against malaria. If fever occurs during your stay or in the months following your return, it is best to see a doctor promptly.

Preventive rabies vaccination is strongly recommended for travelers (children and adults) when they are on foot in Georgian territory.

It is also recommended for travelers taking an extended stay in Georgia, hiking in the Caucasian villages or finding themselves in an isolated situation.

Nevertheless, in the event of confirmed or suspected rabies exposure, preventive vaccination

may be accompanied by curative treatment.

To address a potential typhoid risk, vaccination is required for people taking an extended stay or in precarious conditions in Georgia. This vaccination must, however, be accompanied by measures of caution regarding food consumed, water, and not forgetting good hand hygiene.

Preventive Health Measures in Georgia

Food hygiene is one of the preventive measures to strictly respect during a trip to Georgia. Maintaining good food hygiene on site will help you avoid suffering from typhoid or hepatitis A. Make sure to eat only well-cooked food.

Regarding tap water, avoid drinking it, even in hotels, as it is not potable.

It is better to drink bottled water.

During the summer season, mosquitoes can become a constant nuisance.

Thus, in the evening, opt for long clothing treated with insecticide. You can find these in pharmacies in spray bottles of permethrin. Spraying is done on the external parts of clothing.

You can also apply a repellent product to all exposed parts of your body, including your face. The best approach is to use the product at sunset. The protection duration of the repellent can last between 2 and 5 hours.

Sleeping under a permethrin-treated mosquito net proves effective against mosquito bites. To this end, ensure that your hotel room is equipped with one.

If you plan to eat at roadside stands or have a hearty meal with a local resident, an anti-diarrheal medication is strongly advised.

Always regarding food, do not eat raw vegetables and ensure that your meat is well cooked.

Traveling with Medications to Georgia

Regarding the regulations relating to the entry of medications, these are

extremely strict in Georgia.

Thus, certain painkillers, such as opioids, or psychotropic medications, such as codeine, are prohibited for import by individuals into Georgia.

Apart from these painkillers, the quantity of medications that can be imported is limited to 10 boxes.

Entry into Georgian territory with such medications is only accepted if a proper declaration is made and a complete file is presented to customs.

The traveler must therefore have the following documents :

- a copy of the prescription, with its duplicate, issued by the country of origin translated into English.

The prescription must include the following information: name, age, gender, trade name and generic name of the narcotic/psychotropic substance, medical report, number of tablets and/or vials, pharmaceutical form of the medication, duration of treatment and dosage of the medication.

- a certificate from the attending physician issued by the country of origin translated into English.

- a document from the country of origin certifying the validity of the certificate and the prescription. This document must include the name of the organization issuing it, the legal address of the organization, the name and phone number of the contact person, and the name of the destination country (for example Georgia).

Furthermore, in Georgia, few clinics and hospitals, located mainly in large cities, meet European standards. In case of a serious accident during your stay, it is advisable to have taken out insurance covering all your medical expenses, as well as your medical evacuation.

In case of emergency, you can contact :

- Tbilissi Central Hospital, located at 1 Konstantine Chachava St, Tbilissi 0159, Georgia.

- Central Republican Hospital, located at 29 Vazha Pshavela Ave, Tbilissi, Georgia.

Nevertheless, pharmacies are numerous, very well stocked and open 24/7 in major cities, such as Tbilissi.