LOCAL VACCINE COORDINATION TEAM - LIBYA

FAQ: UN SYSTEM-WIDE COVID-19

VACCINATION PROGRAMME IN LIBYA
PUBLISHED: 18 APRIL 2021

GENERAL INFORMATION & ELIGIBILITY

1. HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY COVID-19 VACCINATION?

In Libya, the UN system-wide COVID-19 vaccination programme is overseen by the Resident Coordinator’s Office
and UNSMIL, under the overall guidance of the United Nations Department of Operational Support (DOS) based in
New York UN HQ. The designated Local Vaccine Deployment Team (LVDT) in Libya is responsible for roll-out of
the vaccine programme to all eligible recipients.

The UN Programme for UN Personnel is not taking away vaccinations from the local populations we serve or
impacting Libya’s national vaccination deployment plan. The UN is acquiring a supply of COVID-19 vaccine for UN
personnel outside the COVAX facility arrangements for delivery of vaccines to designated countries including Libya.
The Programme for UN Personnel globally and in Libya strives to align itself whenever and wherever possible with
the COVAX rollout of vaccines in host countries (including Libya), in close coordination with UNICEF and WHO.

2. WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE UN SYSTEM-WIDE COVID-19

VACCINATION PROGRAMME?
The UN System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme intends to support the following categories of individuals
who are serving for the Libya operation and are residing in Libya and/or Tunis where the UN System-wide COVID-
19 Vaccination Programme will be carried out:

1. National and international UN System personnel:

a. Staff members
b. UN Volunteers
c. Interns
d. Consultants and Individual Contractors
e. Other personnel holding a direct UN contract

2. Eligible family members: spouses/partners and dependent children recognized under the staff regulations
and rules of the respective UN system organizations, who are authorized to reside at the duty station
(Libya/Tunisia) with the staff member or who reside at a location where the UN is running a vaccination
campaign.

3. Accompanying eligible family members of non-staff personnel as defined by the UN system organizations’
staff regulations and rules and policies, who are authorized to reside at the duty station (Libya/Tunisia)
with such personnel or who reside at a location where the UN is running a vaccination campaign.

4. Military and police personnel deployed by the United Nations and accompanying eligible dependents (i.e.
UNGU).

5. UN System Retirees in receipt of a pension benefit from the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund
(UNJSPF) _or from the IMF Staff Retirement Plan (SRP), or the World Bank SRP who have established

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their normal place of residence in a country where the UN System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination
Programme is carried out.

6. All personnel of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) that are engaged by UN system
organizations in the implementation of their respective mandates, and the accompanying dependents of
those international INGO personnel. The eligible INGOs are those covered under the Medevac
programme.

7. Inclusion of additional categories of frontline personnel remains under discussion and active consideration.

Please see the UN System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Eligibility document for details.

3. HOW WILL THE UN PRIORITIZE VACCINATIONS IN THE UN SYSTEM-

WIDE COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAMME?
Within the full pool of eligible UN recipients, the UN is basing its prioritization on the WHO Strategic Advisory
Group of Experts (SAGE) Roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines in the context of limited supply.

This roadmap allows for individuals who are at greater risk of exposure to the virus, or who will likely suffer a more
severe course of illness if contracting the virus, to receive the vaccine first. Such priority groups include health care
workers and other front-line workers, as well as older adults, and those of any age with underlying health
conditions.

4. WHEN CAN I EXPECT TO RECEIVE MY VACCINATION?

The first shipment of vaccines to Libya under the UN System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is
underway. UN personnel and eligible recipients should be receiving their vaccination based on prioritization and
their particular status (age, health status, etc.) within the WHO’s prioritization roadmap.

Given the number of doses that will be available in Libya, the plan is to first cover 30% of eligible prioritized UN
and INGO staff. After that, the UN will move on to covering the remaining 70% of eligible recipients.

Additional information on the timeline will be communicated as soon as it becomes available.

5. WHERE WILL I BE VACCINATED?

The Local Vaccine Deployment Team is looking at setting up several vaccination sites based on staff locations
(i.e. in Libya and in Tunis). The Local Vaccination Deployment plans are developed in coordination with other UN
country team partners to ensure that all eligible recipients can be vaccinated. Additional information on the
vaccination sites will be communicated as soon as it becomes available.

6. HOW DO I REGISTER OR GET AN APPOINTMENT TO RECEIVE MY

VACCINATION?
Eligible individuals will be able to register on a dedicated online registration platform set up by UN Headquarters
in New York as is the procedure and requirement for all countries and duty stations covered by the UN System-
wide Vaccination Programme for UN personnel. We are informed the registration platform will open closer to the
time of receipt of vaccines in Libya. We will inform you as soon as the registration is open for Libya.

Additional information on the registration platform will be communicated as soon as it becomes available.

7. MY DEPENDENTS ARE NOT BASED IN MY DUTY STATION. CAN THEY

STILL GET VACCINATED?
Dependents not based in the duty station are not covered under the duty station plan. However, the registration
platform permits staff members to register their dependents for vaccination outside their duty station at a location
included in the UN System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

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8. IS COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATORY FOR UN PERSONNEL?

COVID-19 vaccination is not mandatory for UN personnel and their dependents, but it is strongly recommended.
The UN recommends UN personnel and their dependents receive a COVID-19 vaccine that has been approved
by WHO and/or by two Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs) for emergency use. Any immunization procedure,
regardless of whether it has been approved by WHO and/or by two Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs), should
always be based on the recipient’s informed consent.

Consistent with the UN standards of conduct and host country agreements, UN personnel are expected to respect
and comply with instructions, preventive and protective measures and other COVID-19 policies of the host
country.

9. WILL VACCINATIONS BECOME A REQUIREMENT FOR PHYSICAL

RETURN TO UN PREMISES IN THE FUTURE?
Whilst the UN system organizations do not intend to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory, including in the
context of a physical return to premises, receiving such vaccination is strongly recommended.

10. IS THE COST OF THE VACCINES COVERED BY THE UN?

The COVID-19 Vaccination is offered free of charge for UN personnel and their eligible dependents, as well as for
eligible INGO staff and their eligible dependents under the UN System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

11. WILL I BE OFFERED A CHOICE OF VACCINE?

As in most countries, people will currently not be able to choose the kind or the brand of vaccine under the UN
System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

12. WHICH VACCINE IS THE UN ADMINISTERING AS PART OF THE UN

SYSTEM-WIDE COVID-19 PROGRAMME?
The UN has acquired doses of Covishield, the version of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by
the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, approved under emergency use listing
procedures (EUL) by WHO. The UN expects to acquire or receive donations of other EUL WHO-approved vaccine
doses as they become available.

See the Covishield factsheet here: https://www.seruminstitute.com/pdf/covishield_fact_sheet.pdf

13. IS THE OXFORD-ASTRAZENECA/COVISHIELD VACCINE SAFE?

The available science indicates that the Oxford-AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine is highly effective and safe. It prevents
severe disease, hospitalization, and is saving lives.

As of 9 April, almost 200 million individuals had received the AZ vaccine. Among those, a very small number of
individuals (reportedly, 1 in 100,000) has experienced rare types of thromboembolic events (unusual blood clots
with low blood platelets). Reported incidence is variable, ranging from 1 /100,000,000 to 1/100,000 vaccination.
This is an area of ongoing study to understand true risk. These rare events have prompted a thorough
assessment of all available data by WHO’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GAVCS) and the
European Medicines Agency (EMA) with a view to ascertain whether a causal link with the AZ vaccine can be
established.

On 7 April 2021, the GACVS and the EMA as well as other national health authorities in Europe all issued
statements indicating that:
1. A causal relationship between the vaccine and the occurrence of these thromboembolic events is considered

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plausible but is not confirmed.

2. The events are very rare and therefore, if there is a causal link, the risk is extremely low. In comparison, as of 7
April 2021, at least 2.86 million people worldwide have died of COVID-19, and infections continue to rise.
3. The benefits of taking the AZ vaccine far outweigh the very rare potential risks. Specialized studies are needed
to fully understand the potential relationship between vaccination and possible risk factors, such as gender or age
as well as comorbidities or other factors, which so far have not been identified. However, out of an abundance of
caution, some countries decided to restrict the vaccine to certain categories of population.

See full GAVCVS statement here: https://www.who.int/news/item/07-04-2021-interim-statement-of-the-covid-19-

subcommittee-of-the-who-global-advisory-committee-on-vaccine-safety

In sum, while the vaccine may cause severe blood clotting events, such events were deemed by all health experts
as extremely rare, and not altering the risk/benefit balance, which remains overwhelmingly in favour of getting the
AZ vaccine, if and when available. In case of doubt, you are advised to consult with your health care provider. The
above information is dynamic and subject to change. As more information becomes available, this FAQ will be
updated.

14. SHALL I EXPECT SIDE EFFECTS FOLLOWING THE ASTRAZENECA

VACCINE, AND ARE ANY OF THESE SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED
WITH GENDER OR AGE?
Serious side effects may occur from any vaccine but are extremely rare. It is important to remember that we are
witnessing the largest mass vaccination campaign in history, and some rare reactions are to be expected.

Whilst mild and local side effects within two/three days following vaccination are expected and common,
individuals who experience any severe symptoms potentially related to blood clotting – such as shortness of
breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, neurological symptoms, such as severe and persistent
headaches or blurred vision, tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection – typically around 4 to
20 days following vaccination - should seek urgent medical attention.

15. WHAT IF I DO NOT WANT TO RECEIVE THE SPECIFIC TYPE OF

VACCINE OFFERED TO ME?
It will be up to the individual to decide if they want to be vaccinated or not and whether they want to accept the
type of vaccination being offered. COVID-19 vaccination is voluntary for UN personnel and their dependents, but it
is strongly recommended.

16. WHAT IF I WANT TO BE VACCINATED IN MY HOME COUNTRY?

That is a personal choice and up to the individual to decide. The UN will not be responsible for the cost of
transportation to the home country. Eligible staff members (and their eligible family members) may, however, take
advantage of home leave, family visit or reverse education grant travel to their home country and be vaccinated
there.

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MEDICAL

17. WHAT CAN I DO NOW TO HELP PROTECT MYSELF FROM

GETTING COVID-19 AS I WAIT FOR MY VACCINATION?
You should continue covering your mouth and nose with a mask, washing your hands regularly and staying at
least 1,5 meters (or depending on local health authorities’ recommendations) away from others and avoid
crowded areas with poor ventilation. These steps will help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or
spreading it to others.

18. ARE COVID-19 VACCINES SAFE?

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners are committed to accelerating the development of COVID-
19 vaccines while ensuring that all vaccines are as safe as possible. All clinical trials are rigorously evaluating
vaccines for safety.

• More WHO information on the COVID-19 vaccines.

• More information from the UN Medical Directors regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

19. HOW DO THE VACCINES WORK?

Vaccines are all designed to teach the body’s immune system to safely recognize and block the virus that causes
COVID-19. Several different types of vaccines for COVID-19 have been developed, or are in development,
including:

• inactivated or weakened virus vaccines, which use a form of the virus that has been inactivated or
weakened so it doesn’t cause disease, but still generates an immune response

• protein-based vaccines, which use harmless fragments of proteins or protein shells that mimic the
COVID-19 virus to safely generate an immune response

• viral vector vaccines, which use a virus that has been genetically engineered so that it can’t cause
disease but produces coronavirus proteins to safely generate an immune response

• RNA and DNA vaccines, a cutting-edge approach that uses genetically engineered RNA or DNA to
generate a protein that itself safely prompts an immune response

For more information about all COVID-19 vaccines in development, see this WHO publication (source: WHO).

20. CAN I GET SICK WITH COVID-19 FROM THE VACCINE?

No. None of the current vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19.

This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19. However, as with all other vaccines,
you may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building immune protection.

Common side effects observed with the COVID-19 vaccines may include:

• On the arm where you receive the vaccine: pain and swelling
• Throughout the rest of your body: fever, chills, tiredness, headache

These side effects may affect your ability to perform daily activities, but they should typically go away within a few
days. You are encouraged to read the following information on vaccine safety and common side effects.

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21. IS IT SAFE TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE IF I HAVE AN UNDERLYING

MEDICAL CONDITION?
COVID-19 vaccination is especially important for people with underlying health problems (e.g. heart disease, lung
disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancers, poor immunity and obesity). Such individuals are more likely to develop
a severe form of COVID-19.

You should always consult with your health care provider if you have specific questions about the COVID-19
vaccine and your health. On very rare occasions, allergic reactions can occur. If you have had allergic reactions to
any vaccines, drugs, medical products, foods etc. in the past, you should discuss the vaccination with your
healthcare provider.

You are encouraged to read the following information on vaccine safety and common side effects.

22. HOW MANY DOSES OF VACCINES HAVE TO BE TAKEN AND

AT WHAT TIME INTERVAL?
This depends on the type of vaccine you are given. For Covishield, which will be administered under the UN
System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme in Libya, the time interval between two doses is 60-90 days.
With most COVID-19 vaccines, you will need two doses in order for them to work, with a few weeks in between.
You should get the second shot even if you have side effects after the first dose, unless a vaccination provider or
your doctor tells you not to get a second dose.

Different types of vaccines have different vaccination schedules, and other vaccines that are in the process of
approval and/or development may require just a single dose.

23. CAN I RETURN TO LIFE AS NORMAL AFTER I'VE BEEN VACCINATED?

For the time being, even after receiving the vaccine, you should continue to stay vigilant (wear a mask, wash your
hands and maintain physical distancing) until the vast majority of the population is immune.

We are still awaiting scientific confirmation that a vaccinated person, when exposed to the virus, might continue to
spread it to others when asymptomatic.

Please note that vaccines continue to protect the person who receives the vaccine.

24. IF I HAVE ALREADY HAD COVID-19 AND RECOVERED, DO I STILL

NEED TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE?
Yes. The COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to you regardless of whether you have already had the COVID-
19 infection previously. The protection from a vaccination appears to provide more effective protection.

However, those who are currently infected with COVID-19 should postpone vaccination until after their illness has
run its course and after they have met their health authorities’ criteria to discontinue isolation.

Additionally, current evidence suggests that re-infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 is uncommon in the
90 days after initial infection. Therefore, people with a recent infection may delay vaccination until the end of that
90-day period if desired.

25. AFTER I AM VACCINATED, HOW LONG WILL VACCINE IMMUNITY

LAST?
Researchers do not yet know yet how long immunity lasts after vaccination. That is why continuation of public
health preventive practices, e.g. wearing a mask, washing your hands regularly and physical distancing, will still
be important for some time to come.

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26. WHY SHOULD A VACCINE BE NEEDED IF WE HAVE OTHER PUBLIC

HEALTH MEASURES LIKE PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND WEARING
MASKS, TO PREVENT COVID-19 FROM SPREADING?
Stopping a pandemic requires using all tools available, including:

• Acquiring immunity against COVID-19, naturally (by contracting the illness) or through vaccination.

• Avoiding contracting and spreading COVID-19 by respecting preventive measures like covering your
mouth and nose with a mask and staying at least 6 feet (or depending on local health authorities’
recommendations) away from others.

• Wearing of masks when you are in crowded settings, where you cannot be at least 6 feet from others and
in rooms with poor or unknown ventilation.

Together, being vaccinated against COVID-19 along with following WHO’s and other public health
recommendations will offer the best protection from COVID-19 for yourself and those around you.

27. IF I GET A COVID-19 VACCINE, WILL IT CAUSE A FALSE POSITIVE

FOR COVID-19 DIAGNOSTIC TESTING (I.E. PCR OR ANTIGEN TESTS)?
Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine will not cause a positive PCR or antigen laboratory test result since these specific
tests check for active disease and not whether an individual is immune or not.

However, it should be noted that the antibody test (or “serology test”) may be positive in someone who has been
vaccinated, since that is a specific test that measures COVID-19 immunity in an individual.

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ABOUT UN SYSTEM-WIDE VACCINATION PROGRAMME COORDINATION

28. HOW IS THE COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAMME FOR UN

PERSONNEL COORDINATED?
The System-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is coordinated by a recently established Vaccine
Deployment Working Group, led by the Department of Operational Support (DOS) at the UN Headquarters in New
York. In Libya, the UN system-wide COVID-19 vaccination programme is overseen by the Resident Coordinator’s
Office and UNSMIL, under the overall guidance of DOS. The designated Local Vaccine Deployment Team (LVDT)
in Libya is responsible for roll-out of the vaccine programme to all eligible recipients. This Working Group
incorporates representatives from several UN system entities, leveraging expertise from across the UN System.

29. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL VACCINE DEPLOYMENT TEAM

(LVDT)?
The Local Vaccine Deployment Team is responsible for the roll-out of the vaccine program to eligible recipients
with guidance and support provided by the Global Vaccine Deployment Support Team at all stages of the
program. The LVD plans are developed in coordination with other UN country team partners. UN system
organizations’ human resources, legal offices, communications experts as well as medical, logistics, maintenance
and security personnel are all consulted and participate in the formulation of the plan and its subsequent
implementation. The Local Vaccine Deployment Team works in collaboration with stakeholders in Libya to ensure
that population data is accurate, eligible individuals register for vaccination, doses are received, handled and
transported safely in country, vaccine administration arrangements are in place, etc.

30. HOW ARE SHIPMENTS OF VACCINES BEING CENTRALLY

COORDINATED?
The Global Vaccine Deployment Support team is planning to ship the first doses of vaccines available to those
duty stations that are ready to receive vaccines, following the priority list defined by the UN Medical Directors
(UNMD) country priority tool. Libya will receive its first shipment in April. The first shipment to Libya will include
2,000 first doses for high-risk individuals and priority cases (first responders, uniformed personnel). Secondary
batches will follow and information will be communicated accordingly.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
The UN Intranet-iSeek: COVID-19 Response page
UN COVID-19 Response page
World Health Organization, COVAX Explained
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA)
UNICEF COVAX Information Centre
WHO SAGE Roadmap For Prioritizing Uses Of COVID-19 Vaccines

REFERENCES:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-
detail/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-vaccines
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html
https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/coronavirus_unmdstatementcovidvaccine.pdf

CONTACT FOR STAFF

Jennifer Bose Ratka, Communications Focal Point, Local Vaccine Deployment Team, [email protected]
Abdulkadir Musse, Local Vaccine Deployment Coordinator, [email protected]
Pierpaolo Prati, Deputy Chief of Mission Support UNSMIL, [email protected]