Patriarchate: patriarch’s decision on vaccination shouldn’t be determiner for others

The patriarchate did not say whether or not Patriarch Ilia II will receive the coronavirus vaccine. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Agenda.ge, 11 Aug 2021 - 18:42, Tbilisi,Georgia

The Georgia Patriarchate says that the future decision of Patriarch Ilia II whether or not to receive the coronavirus vaccine, who is the most trusted figure in the country, ‘should not be a determiner for others.’ 

The patriarchate, which is the second most liked institution in Georgia after the army with about 80% of the country's population trusting it, says that clerics' positive or negative attitude to the vaccination process ‘should not be a trigger for others to make decisions.’ 

Vaccination is the part of the medical field and requires an individual approach which is beyond the church’s competences,” says the Patriarchate. 

The recent IRI polls were published on August 3, 2021. Image: IRI.

However, the statement says that ‘vaccination must not be mandatory’ and that everyone should observe coronavirus guidelines. 

The patriarchate states that they released the statement in response to ‘false media reports’ on Ilia II’s vaccination who will turn 89 in January. 

Image: IRI.

Georgia continues to report record figures of  daily coronavirus infections and deaths over the past several days. 

Georgian health officials say that the situation ‘is alarming’ and encourage people to receive the vaccine and observe general guidelines. 

The country is taking the first place worldwide for daily cases per 100,000 individuals, as the daily cases over the past two weeks hit an average 3,000-4000.