Question reference: S5W-36091
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a COVID-19 vaccine certificate system and, if so, how it will ensure that such a scheme does not discriminate against people who are unable to receive the vaccine for health reasons.
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently considering the role that a vaccination certificate/passport may have. However, this work is still ongoing and a final decision has not been reached on whether this will be introduced.
A key factor in the Scottish Government’s decision will be the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines, their impact on transmission and the length of time for which each vaccine provides immunity. There is not enough information available yet.
We continue to monitor all developments in relation to COVID-19, including on the subject of vaccine certification. We continue to contribute to the World Health Organisation Safer Vaccination Programme on vaccine certification. This includes consideration of technical details, ethical and equality issues, and privacy standards. The outcome of those discussions will guide our work in this area.
A vaccination certificate could play a valuable role but there are various issues to work through, not least the significant equalities issues with allowing freedoms only to those vaccinated. Work, on a 4 nations basis, has started to scope and develop a technical solution to allow secure, authenticated access to Covid vaccination status.
This is to ensure technology is not the limiting factor should the work underway indicate it would be appropriate to introduce certification at the right time.
The Scottish Government’s main focus remains on our national vaccine programme and ensuring that this is rolled out as quickly and effectively as possible.