Later vaccines for military personnel going overseas

The 550 Canadian military personnel going to Latvia won't be given the COVID-19 vaccine despite an outbreak of the virus at the facility they'll be operating from in that country.

The military, which has a limited number of vaccine doses, is giving priority to those who have health conditions that place them at increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection, as well as personnel who are working or preparing to work in higher-risk settings as part of the federal government's plan to help the provinces and territories during the pandemic.

Military personnel involved in international operations, such as Operation Reassurance in Latvia and other parts of Eastern Europe, are to receive vaccinations later, said National Defence spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande.

Flights between Latvia and Canada for new troop rotation will take place over the next two weeks, she added. About 550 Canadian military personnel will be sent to Latvia to replace personnel already there.

The department has confirmed that some Canadian Forces members already in Latvia have tested positive for COVID-19, but the DND won't release numbers for security reasons. The department says the personnel are at Camp Adazi near the Latvian capital, Riga.

Lamirande said vaccinations of the troops in Latvia, and other international missions, are expected to take place between April and December.

“In the meantime, we continue to follow the strict pre- and post-deployment COVID-19 protocols that were implemented, including 14-day quarantines, and are abiding by the rules, regulations, and restrictions applicable to where the CAF are deployed,” Lamirande added. “The safety and well-being of our members is a top priority, and we continue to do everything we can to ensure their protection as we follow expert advice from (the Public Health Agency of Canada) and take necessary precautions.”

DND spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier said staff in Latvia who have COVID-19 are under medical care and contact tracing is being conducted. “The affected members are currently in isolation or quarantine,” he said.

Isolation is for military staff who either test positive or display symptoms of COVID-19, and quarantine is a preventive measure for members who were in contact with people suspected or confirmed to have contracted the disease, but don't show symptoms themselves.

After military personnel on international missions are vaccinated, the Canadian Forces will turn its attention to staff in force generation, training, and education activities.

Those vaccinations are expected between July and December, Lamirande said.

Vaccinations of all other military personnel are also expected in that period.

In July 2018 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Latvia to announce the Liberal government was not only extending the mission but expanding it. Canadian troops are to stay in the country until March 2023, and the number of military personnel was boosted from 455 to more than 540.

The estimated cost to Canadian taxpayers of the mission extension wasn't available. The battle group was established in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its military support for separatists fighting Ukraine's defence forces.

Trudeau said the Canadian military is in Latvia to send a message to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.