Covid in Scotland: Vaccine passport scheme enforceable by law

The Scottish government's vaccine passport scheme has become enforceable by law from Monday morning.

Nightclubs and large events, like some football matches, will only be able to allow entry to people who can show they have had two doses of a Covid vaccine.

Businesses were given a 17-day "period of grace" to allow venues time to test out their procedures.

Everyone over the age of 18 must now show - if asked - that they have had both doses of the vaccine before they are allowed entry to certain venues and events. These include:

The scheme requires venues to put in place a "reasonable system" to check the status of customers, with certain exemptions on medical grounds.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said he hoped the "very limited scheme" would allow businesses to remain open and prevent any further restrictions as we head into autumn and winter.

He added: "This virus has not gone away and vaccine certification will have a role to play in keeping transmission under control as part of a wider package of measures. It adds a further layer of protection in certain higher risk settings.

"I also want to ensure that as many people get vaccinated as possible and particularly to increase uptake in the younger age cohort, so anything to incentivise that is helpful."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that the hospitality industry as a whole would not be included in the scheme, although that decision would be kept under review.

The government also said there would be no need for a vaccine passport to access public services or settings where people have no choice over attendance - such as shops, public transport, education and medical services.

Public health expert Jillian Evans, of NHS Grampian, said Scotland was likely to have to live with the measure until the vaccination uptake was much higher, especially in younger people.

She told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I think although it was announced as being the secondary purpose behind the vaccine passport, getting people vaccinated, I wonder if it was the primary reason.

"Scotland's vaccination uptake has been increasing since August, it's really caught up with other UK countries, in fact Scotland and Wales have the highest rates of double dose vaccination uptake in the UK."

Ms Evans added that Scotland could not live with its current Covid rates and that she was "really worried" about how the NHS would cope over the winter period

She said: "If you think about the number of people dying from Covid every day - something like 126 the other day alone, that's not something I think is acceptable.

"We know also, in my own area in particular, the number of people admitted to hospital with symptoms is still increasing. That's counter to fallen case rates which suggests that we're not detecting as many people out there - we may be underestimating the number of people with the virus."

Problems were reported with the NHS Scotland Covid Status app after it was made available to download on Apple and Android devices on 30 September.

The Scottish government has insisted technical issues linking the app to the NHS system have since been ironed out.

The app allows people to register, using their passport or driving licence to verify their identity, and then creates a QR code for each vaccination.

It is similar to schemes used in other countries across Europe.

Scottish Labour's health spokesperson Jackie Baillie described the government's launch of the app as a "shambles".

She said: "If we want to control the virus we must look at proper resourcing of our test and protect system which has collapsed in recent weeks.

"If we want to drive up vaccination we should be going door-to-door to convince those we know are hesitant and making it easier to just walk in for an appointment.

"Instead, the government is doubling down on this mess."

Northern Ireland has yet to announce a formal vaccination passport scheme.