Chamber and committees

Throughout the pandemic we have provided bespoke advice, information and support to help protect the approximately 180,000 people on Scotland’s Highest Risk List.

While we will continue to ensure people at highest risk know where to turn if they need further guidance, clinicians and GPs are the primary source of advice for those on the Highest Risk List. They best know the personal circumstances and conditions of each individual and can advise them on what, if any, precautions to take as they would have before the pandemic, and can provide tailored information and support.

There is strong evidence that people's risk from Covid-19 has significantly changed as a result of the vaccination programme and the time is now right for us to consider who still needs to be on the Highest Risk List. In the meantime, we will:

? continue to respond to scientific and clinical advice regarding COVID treatments, making sure that those who we know will benefit most from them are able to access them; and,

? continue to look at ways to identify people who may be at highest risk, taking emerging evidence into account.

? work with our Clinical Advisory Group to provide support to those who no longer need to be on the list where the evidence indicates that they are no longer at highest risk

Our aim is to ensure that people who have been on the Highest Risk List are supported, empowered, and included throughout this calmer period into a more normal way of living. It has been nearly two years since we asked people to shield, and it is crucial that they are now supported to benefit from the lifting of restrictions as much as everyone else.