The COVID-19 global pandemic is a serious health threat
that we have been battling for over a year.
The most important thing that Defence Team members
and their families can do, in addition to following
the current public health recommendations
in the fight against this deadly virus,
is to get a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine
once it becomes available.
Today, Major-General Marc Bilodeau, Surgeon General
for the Canadian Armed Forces joins me to speak more
on the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Thank you so much for joining us, Major-General Bilodeau.
What would you say to those Defence Team members
and their families who will soon have access
to the COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes, so after the Public Health measures
that are currently in place
and very well adhered to by our members,
the next step in bringing us
towards the end of the pandemic is the vaccine.
The vaccine that will reduce the risk of being infected by COVID
but also reduce the severity
of any infection by COVID.
So, definitely, this will bring us closer to the end
of the pandemic and will help protect not only our members,
but also their loved ones.
What are the possible side effects of the vaccine
and how are they being monitored?
So the currently approved vaccines in Canada are...
The results basically of very robust approval process
at Health Canada by which the efficacy
as well as the safety of those vaccines
are being reviewed, and not only short term,
but also on the longer term.
So the side effects are being monitored
and captured as we move forward.
So, therefore, recommendations could be amended
if required in order to insure safety of our members.
Will CAF members be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
So the vaccine will be offered on a voluntary basis,
and people will need to consent to receive the vaccine.
Having said that, there are going to be circumstances
where the vaccine will be made a condition
of employment or deployment.
And that decision will be made in consultation
between the military commanders
and their medical advisors
and will be based on their risk assessment
regarding the type of mission, the environment of that mission
and the risk of that mission
in order to protect ultimately the health of our members.
Is there anything you'd like to add?
Yes, so I think what I would like to ask
is that all of our members, you know,
have the accurate information in order
to make an informed decision regarding their choice
to receive or not the vaccine.
So I think it's everybody's responsibility to make sure
that they are well informed and that they reach out
to the reliable sources, either the Health Canada website
or the Canadian Forces Health Services Group website
in order to have the accurate information
to inform their decision.
I also encourage all members to receive the vaccine.
This is definitely the best way to protect yourself,
your colleagues as well as your loved ones,
as we face the next step of our pandemic.
And obviously, please do not forget to keep adhering
to Public Health measures in the meantime.
Thank you very much
for joining us today, Major-General Bilodeau.
My pleasure.