Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2021
143. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel present on UN duty who were offered a Covid-19 vaccination through the UN since December 2020; the number that received it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25053/21]
View answer144. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence the details of UN arrangements for vaccinations of peacekeepers; if the Defence Forces were part of those arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25054/21]
View answer145. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel on UN duty who received a Covid- 19 vaccination from the host country from December 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25055/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 143 to 145, inclusive, together.
The COVID-19 vaccine Allocation Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and the Department of Health, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020 (updated 30 April 2021). It sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination.
The Defence Forces has established vaccine prioritisation which is in line with this national allocation strategy. Initial Vaccination priority is for Defence Force personnel who are providing front line support to the HSE and National Ambulance Service in the national effort to combat COVID 19.
Personnel selected for deployment to overseas missions fall into a prioritised grouping and they are vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to deployment, subject to availability of the vaccine which is coordinated through the HSE. This approach is in line with UN guidelines which requests Member States to vaccinate troops prior to deployment where feasible.
There may, however, be a small number of Defence Force personnel who, for a variety of reasons, will not be vaccinated against Covid 19 prior to their deployment and planning is ongoing in relation to facilitating the vaccination of these personnel at the earliest possible opportunity.
Most peacekeeping personnel deployed to UN missions from member states should receive the COVID-19 vaccine through their own national or host country vaccination programmes and according to the timelines and prioritisation guidelines of those programmes. The UN Department of Operational Support (DOS) is working to ensure alternative arrangements are put in place for personnel who deploy to UN missions not fully vaccinated.
With regard to the vaccination of Defence Force personnel in theatre to date, I am advised by the military authorities that the following is the position:
- Twelve (12) Defence Force personnel have received vaccines organised by UNIFIL headquarters;
- 26 personnel deployed in the UNDOF mission and six (6) personnel deployed with UNTSO have received a COVID-19 vaccination on the ALPHA (Israeli) side through the Israeli administered programme; and
- eleven (11) personnel deployed in the MINUSMA mission in MALI have received a vaccination through the German contingent in the Mission area.
