On the Establishment of an Interagency Coordination Commission on the Introduction of the COVID-19 Vaccination in Georgia

Government of Georgia

Decree No 2459

15December2020

Tbilisi

On the Establishment of an Interagency Coordination Commission on the Introduction of the COVID-19 Vaccination in Georgia

1.In accordance with Article 29 of the Law of Georgia on the Structure, Powers and Procedure for Activities of the Government of Georgia, an Interagency Coordination Commission (the Commission) on the Introduction of the COVID-19 Vaccination in Georgia shall be established to facilitate the determination and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination policy in Georgia, with the following members:

a) Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia – Chairperson of the Commission

b) First Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia – Deputy Chairperson of the Commission

c) Deputy Minister of Finance of Georgia – a member of the Commission;

d) Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia – a member of the Commission

e) Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia – a member of the Commission

f) General Director of LEPL Levan Sakvarelidze National Center for Disease Control and Public Health – a member of the Commission

g) Director of LEPL State Regulation Agency for Medical Activities – a member of the Commission

h) Director of LEPL National Health Agency – a member of the Commission

i) Director of LEPL Emergency Situations Coordination and Urgent Assistance Center – a member of the Commission

j) Dean of Tbilisi State Medical University – a member of the Commission

k) (deleted – 17.12.2020, No 2495)

l) Chairperson of the National Council on Bioethics – a member of the Commission.

2.The following shall be requested to participate in the work of the Commission with the status of member:

a) the World Health Organization Country Representation

b) the UNICEF Country Representation

c) the Asian Development Bank Country Mission

d) the World Bank Country Representation

e) the UNDP Representation

f) the EU Delegation to Georgia

g) the United States Agency for International Development

h) the Public Defender of Georgia/a representative of the Public Defender of Georgia.

3.The attached 'Statute of the Interagency Coordination Commission on the Introduction of the COVID-19 Vaccination in Georgia' shall be approved. 

Acting Prime Minister                               Giorgi Gakharia

Statute of the Interagency Coordination Commission on the Introduction of the COVID-19 Vaccination in Georgia

Article 1 −General provisions

1.The 'Statute of the Interagency Coordination Commission on the Introduction of the COVID-19 Vaccination in Georgia' (the Statute) shall determine the structure, powers and procedures for the activities of the Commission.

2.In its activities the Commission shall be guided by the Constitution of Georgia, the international treaties and agreements of Georgia, the legislative and subordinate normative acts of Georgia, and the Statute.

Article 2 −Tasks and powers of the Commission

1.The tasks of the Commission are to:

a) develop a national action plan for the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccination in close coordination with the Interagency Coordination Council, and, where necessary, update the plan;

b) ensure the coordination and monitoring of the execution of the national action plan for the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccination.

2.The Commission shall be authorised to:

a) facilitate the coordinated activities of state structures, international organisations, and trade unions for the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccination;

b) communicate with the COVAX Facility through the national coordinator;

c) coordinate the attraction of financial resources for the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccination;

d) invite experts, members of the Parliament of Georgia, administrative bodies, international organisations, and representatives of partner countries of Georgia, in accordance with procedures provided for by legislation, taking into account the needs of the Commission.

Article 3 −Activities of the Commission

1. The meetings of the Commission shall be convened and presided over by the Chairperson of the Commission, and in his/her absence, by the deputy Chairperson of the Commission.

2.The Commission shall exercise its powers through its meetings.

3.The Chairperson of the Commission shall organise the work of the Commission, preside over the meetings of the Commission, approve the agenda of meetings and, where necessary, introduce appropriate amendments thereto, and convene extraordinary meetings of the Commission.

4. A member of the Commission shall be authorised to submit in writing to the Chairperson of the Commission, at least three days before convening a Commission meeting, a list of issues to be included in the agenda of the meeting of the Commission. Depending on the urgency of the issue, by a decision of the Chairperson of the Commission, amendments and additions may be made to the agenda.

5.A meeting of the Commission shall be duly constituted if it is attended by more than half of the members of the Commission.

6. In exceptional cases, a meeting of the Commission may be held in an electronic format.

7. A decision to convene an extraordinary meeting of the Commission shall be taken by the Chairperson of the Commission, on his/her own initiative, or upon a written request of a member(s) of the Commission.

8. Attendance at a Commission meeting shall be mandatory for Commission members.

9. In the case of the temporary absence of a member of the Commission, his/her authority shall be exercised by an acting member, or a person authorised by the head of a relevant agency.

10. Commission meetings shall be recorded in a protocol, which shall be signed by the Chairperson of the Commission and the Secretary of the Commission.

11. The Commission shall be authorised to invite representatives of state agencies and representatives of legal entities, non-governmental and international organisations, and specialists in a relevant field, to participate in meetings with deliberative votes.

Article 4 − Taking decisions by the Commission

1. Decisions at Commission meetings shall be taken by a majority of votes of members attending the Commission meeting. A member of the Commission has no right to abstain from voting. In the case of equal votes, the vote of the Chairperson shall be decisive.

2. A decision taken by the Commission shall be indicated and recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

3. In the case of holding a meeting in an electronic format, a decision of the Commission shall be taken through e-mail on the basis of letters of consent sent by the members of the Commission. A decision shall be considered adopted if it is supported by a majority of the total members of the Commission.

Article 5 – Secretariat of the Commission

1.The Secretariat of the Commission shall:

a) provide analytical and organisational support to the Commission;

b) administer the activities of the Commission;

c) prepare the agenda, the minutes of meetings, and the work documents of the Commission, and send them to the members of the Commission;

d) inform the members of the Commission, and other persons invited to a meeting, of the date and place of the meeting, and send them the agenda of the meeting of the Commission at least one week before the meeting.

e) ensure the carrying out of other activities necessary for the exercise of the powers of the Commission;

f) facilitate the smooth and efficient operations of working groups.

2.The powers of the Secretariat of the Commission shall be exercised by the Healthcare Policy Division of the Policy Department of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.