Question reference: S6W-03813
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 18 October 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 November 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to ensure that people who are medically exempt from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and therefore do not have a vaccine certificate are still able to (a) access services and venues and (b) travel internationally.
Answer
Vaccination is the best way to keep you, your friends, family, and community safe and we encourage everyone to consider getting the vaccine. In the vast majority of cases a successful route to safe vaccination can be found.
If vaccination is not straightforward, support is available to help people achieve the benefits of protection from the Covid-19 vaccines. Local vaccination centre can help answer questions about the vaccine and can advise what arrangements may be put in place to enable safe vaccination. In the rare cases where that support does not lead to vaccination, the offer of an exemption will be a part of the process.
A person who is identified as clinically unable to safely receive the vaccine will receive a secure paper exemption certificate in the post.
These certificates are fully equivalent to the certificates provided for all other people who have been fully vaccinated and can be used for access to domestic venues and will also permit smoother inbound entry to the UK. The Scottish Government have published ‘ Vaccine certification scheme – information for business and event organisers ’ and a ‘ toolkit ’ which provides guidance and example certificates, so venues are fully aware that they should be accepting the certificate issued to medically exempt individuals for entry to their venue or event.