Operation VECTOR

For more information on Canada’s COVID-19 Vaccine roll-out, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/covid-19-vaccine-treatment/vaccine-rollout.html

About Operation VECTOR

The CAF is ready to respond wherever and whenever the government needs us to help protect Canadians. The Defence Team has been, is, and will continue to be, part of the national response to help minimize the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The planning for and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is logistically complex given the geography of the country, requirements for ultra-cold storage, distribution to remote and isolated communities, and coordination between various levels of government. To this challenge, the CAF brings an array of experience and logistical expertise that enhances federal logistic planning and operations.

While the administering of vaccinations is not the CAF’s primary role, the Minister of National Defence has authorized the CAF to vaccinate certain additional populations not usually covered by CAF healthcare, with authority for specific circumstances delegated to the Director of Health Service Operations (DHSO).

Planning, training and logistics

Planning

As part of the planning process by the Vaccine Roll-out Task Force, specific roles for the CAF may be identified.

To ensure that the CAF is fully poised and prepared to support this effort, we have laid the groundwork to have people and equipment available to support delivery of the vaccine, if required, under CAF Operation VECTOR.

Through prudent planning with our partner organizations, the CAF is prepared to support in a variety of ways, leveraging the expertise and capabilities of our personnel and equipment.

Training

As part of that planning, and in anticipation of requests for CAF assistance, select CAF personnel across the country have been conducting specific, tailored training so as to be ready to provide assistance as rapidly as circumstances permit. This training is in place to ensure that CAF personnel participating in the fight against COVID-19 are adequately prepared to overcome the challenges they may face.

Possible tasks that are being planned for include:

Providing international transportation to bring COVID-19 vaccines to Canada from manufacturers abroad
transporting freezers, medical supplies, and health care professionals to remote, northern, and coastal communities, and
providing logistical staff to warehousing facilities, distribution hubs, and immunization clinics

These tasks would be in addition to the CAF’s readiness to concurrently respond to other COVID-19 requests for assistance, as well as those due to natural disasters such as ice storms, floods, and forest fires.

Logistics

We have also assigned military liaison officers for each province and territory, who are acting as a liaison for the logistics of the vaccine roll-out. They are in constant communication with their provincial counterparts to ensure close coordination and cohesion of efforts. Their roles will be further developed as planning progresses and the CAF role is further refined.

We are working closely with our partners who will confirm details on the specific role and set of tasks the CAF will undertake.

Canadian Armed Forces assistance

December 2020 to June 2021

Freezer delivery to Canada’s North

Between December 12 and 15, 2020, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) delivered five medical-grade low-temperature freezers (-35°C) to two of our Northern territories.

The freezers were delivered via a RCAF CC-130J Hercules Aircraft. This activity is in support of our PHAC partners, who are leading the federal COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan.

Nain, NL

Between January 14 and 17 and February 12 and 13, 2021, four Canadian Rangers from Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador, assisted the local authorities with the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.

They assisted with transportation of vulnerable individuals within the community to and from the vaccination site.

Watson Lake, YK

In response to a request for assistance by the Yukon Territory Emergency Measures Office, five Canadian Rangers from the community of Watson Lake have been activated on January 20, 2021, to assist local authorities with tearing down a temporary vaccine administration site.

Nishnawbe Aski First Nation

From January 26 to April 30, 2021, in response to a Request for Assistance (RFA) to support the Government of Ontario and ORNGE partners with the delivery of the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to 32 communities of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation in Northern Ontario, Canadian Rangers from those communities, and additional CAF personnel assisted provincial vaccination authorities with tasks associated with vaccine administration. These tasks included:

• General logistics support including transportation of personnel, community members, and materials;

• Local coordination including translation, integration of mobile teams, and distribution of information and educational materials; and

• Administrative support including conducting COVID pre-screening questionnaires, reception, and other general support to planning and operations.

On May 31, 2021, CAF personnel resumed their assistance to the Government of Ontario and their ORNGE partners with the delivery of vaccines to teenagers and other members of the communities choosing to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. Support is expected to continue until the end of August.

CFB Comox Arena Vaccination Site

In response to a request for assistance from the province of British Columbia to support the local public health vaccination program in the Comox Valley Regional District, from March 22 to July 9, 2021, the Glacier Gardens arena at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Comox was used as the main vaccination site for local residents of the Comox Valley. The CFB Comox arena was identified as the only suitable facility in the region since it met the necessary criteria for:

Capacity;
Infection control;
Logistics requirements for pre-vaccination queuing;
Registration;
Post vaccination waiting;
Vaccine storage and handling;
Staff support areas;
First aid;
Privacy; and
Other support areas.

The CAF’s support to EMBC involved infrastructure only. There were no CAF personnel assigned to provide vaccination support at the site.

CAF Support to Vaccination in Northern Manitoba

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) received a request from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to support the local public health vaccination program in Northern Manitoba. In response to this request, the CAF provided vaccination teams to assist with the accelerated vaccine roll-out program in a number of on-reserve Indigenous communities. From March 22 to May 28, 2021, CAF personnel assisted provincial authorities with tasks associated with the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine including:

Providing limited medical assistance, including the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to civilians;
Embedding planners with the Integrated Vaccine Operations Center;
General and logistical support including the establishment of COVID-19 vaccination clinics;
Transportation needs; and
The coordination and delivery of goods and supplies in the absence of commercial options.

The CAF was not involved in any security or law enforcement activities.

Approximately 75 CAF personnel served on Operation VECTOR in Northern Manitoba. A logistical and air transportation hub was established to serve First Nation communities and operated out of Thompson.

CAF Support to Vaccination in Nova Scotia

In response to a request for assistance from Province of Nova Scotia, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will provide 25 CAF members to assist with vaccinating members of the public in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) as part of the local public health vaccination program. Beginning on 21 June, CAF personnel will assist provincial authorities with tasks associated with the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine including:

Administering COVID-19 vaccines to civilians
Welcoming community members to the COVID-19 vaccination clinics
Ushering community members through the sequencing of steps to get vaccinated
Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and areas.

The duration of this provision of support will be determined as the situation evolves.

Vaccine Roll-out Task Force

A team of CAF members is supporting PHAC with ongoing planning and coordination for the transport, storage, and distribution of vaccines. These include senior leaders, logistics experts, operational planners, pharmacists, physicians, health care administrators, engineers, and information technology and systems experts.

Their tasks include helping to establish the operations centre that to oversee the vaccine roll-out, synchronizing vaccine delivery efforts and providing constant awareness of the status of vaccine storage, delivery and strategy implementation. These CAF members are strengthening plans by introducing risk mitigation tools and conducting a series of exercises that will stress-test plans.

This planning is a significant undertaking, remains ongoing, and is rehearsed to verify its effectiveness, identify challenges, and establish contingency plans.

For more information about this aspect, please contact the Public Health Agency of Canada.

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Operation VECTOR

Operation VECTOR

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