An Cosantóir

56 INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE INTERNAL COMMS Internal Communications Update is created by the Defence Forces Internal Communications Team. Our aim is to deliver accurate and timely information of interest to our members in order to increase awareness on current and future developments across the organisation.Our segment in the An Cosantóir along with our online member's area on military. ie will allow information of interest to be distributed across the DF. The Member's Area of military.ie is to enable our personnel to access information while off-site. General Staff Update from the 9th of June. The General Staff Convened on the 9th of June to review a range or updates and provide clarity for the Defence Forces General Framework for Living with COVID-19 related restrictions. The force protection of all personnel remains the priority of the General Staff. There was a new DF Framework for living with COVID-19 (Version 13) which was distributed mid-June. Please check your unit notice board for the latest info. The following decisions were provided by the General Staff: • 1 Bde RDF pilot induction programme is approved and can commence. • DF outdoor events and outdoor matches may commence with up to 100 DF pers attending depending on venue. • DF Gyms and Pools may open for individual training only. 5. Mess Bars may reopen for all mess member for outdoor service only. The follow updates and guidance were provided by the General Staff: • The DF has approx 230 pers deployed daily in support of Op FORTITUDE across a range of testing, vaccinating, logs and mandatory quarantine centres. • The conduct of Occupational Medicals on a priority basis in continuing in line with DF and national guidelines. 2400 medicals have been conducted in 2021. • Pregnant women are recommended by DMB to receive the COVID-19 vaccine between 14 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. • All Formations and Units are required to comply with guidance issued by DCOS (Sp) to recorded COVID-19 vaccinations on the Socrates Medical System. • Planning has commenced for the vaccination of those overseas who currently remain unvaccinated. • With restrictions easing and increasing numbers of personnel being vaccinated, J1 has been requested to draft guidance with respect to Business Continuity in preparation for the return of personnel to the work place. • All Formations and Units are requested to ensure that all their personnel are aware of the Letter of Instruction issued by DJ1 on 15Apr which states that only DCOS (Sp) may authorise the travel to the state by members of the DF as being in the course of performing their duties. No other travel to the state will be considered as travel in the course of DF duty (In the context of exemption from public health requirements) COVID-19 Vaccination info: Information has been gathered from the HSE website and guidance from DMB. There has been a page added to the Member's Area which will be updated should there be any changes to timelines or Government guidance. If there is any information or further clarification required please contact your Barrack MO or see the HSE website. As Defence Forces personnel when will I get my vaccination? Apart from vaccinations for operational reasons (COVID facing duties, Overseas and naval ships) all remaining DF personnel will receive their COVID-19 vaccine through the Government Vaccination Program. Do we have a timeline of when people will get vaccinated? The Government have advised that every adult in the state would be vaccinated by the end of September. How will the vaccination confirmation be communicated to each individual? Direct contact between HSE and individual. This system is already rolled out and people are able to register on the HSE website when their age becomes eligible. How do I book in to get vaccinated? Through the HSE website. Should I apply to get my vaccine through the HSE when it becomes available to my age? Yes. There has been talk in the private sector employees getting a day off after the vaccine to recover from any vaccination symptoms, Will DF pers be given 24/48 ED after getting the vaccine? No routine ED/LD post vaccine is recommended. Personnel who develop side effects should report them to their BKS MO and will be looked at on case-by-case basis. What does it mean to be «Vaccinated» against COVID-19? This is when you have received the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and the vaccine has had time to work. Why should you get your COVID-19 Vaccine? COVID-19 vaccines offer protection from COVID-19. COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious illness, hospitalisation and even death. If you do get COVID-19 after vaccination, you should be protected from the serious illness the virus can sometimes cause. It is up to you to decide to get your COVID-19 vaccine. But the HSE, the World Health Organization and the Department of Health strongly recommend that you do as soon as it is offered to you. How long does it take for the vaccine to work? This depends on which vaccine you have been given • 7 days after your 2nd Pfizer-BioNTech dose. • 14 days after your 2nd Moderna dose. • 14 days after the Janssen vaccine (single dose). • 28 days after your 1st Astra Zeneca dose - you still need to get your 2nd does to make sure that your vaccine protection lasts. Which COVID-19 vaccine will you get? You do not get to choose which vaccine you get. The type of vaccine offered to you will be based on supply. All the vaccines we use are safe and effective. The best vaccine to get is the one you are offered. I have been vaccinated, what changes for me day to day?

• Cover