Last update: September 14th, 2021.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is granting easy quarantine-free travel across Europe. Scotland residents also have access to COVID certificates via the NHS Inform website or the NHS Covid Pass app.
Does Scotland require COVID vaccine passports?
Scotland uses a contact-tracing app, Protect Scotland, and the developers (NearForm) have confirmed that they are working on a Scottish vaccine passport.
NearForm’s Chief Commercial Officer, Larry Breen, explained that “what [they’re] looking to do is obviously provide proof of people’s vaccination, proof of their recovery, or proof that they have had a valid test that shows they have a level of protection for traveling around.”
He added that they aim to create a scannable QR code that facilitates international travel, and domestic uses, too.
In the meantime, Scottish citizens can use their NHS COVID certificate to travel to over 30 countries, including Spain, Greece and Malta.
Domestic uses for Scotland’s COVID Pass
English Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid recently announced that the UK was backpedaling on its plan to make vaccine passports a legal requirement for entrance to nightclubs and large events.
However, following a recent announcement by Nicola Sturgeon, it has become clear that Scotland will maintain this requirement, despite the opposition.
Starting October 1st, Scotland residents will need to present proof of vaccination for access to the following areas:
- Nightclubs and adult entertainment venues
- Indoor events of over 500 attendees
- Outdoor events of over 1000 attendees
- Any event of over 10000 attendees
“Obviously [the government] would have to clearly make the decision that they wanted to move in that direction and modify what they are doing accordingly and do that in consultation with the public and make sure people understand the rhymes and reasons for doing that”, Breen remarked.
Scottish nightclubs & proof of vaccination
The Scottish government announced that they will be using their COVID passport for entrance to nightclubs from September, but this is hotly contested.
“We are making incredible success with our vaccination program rollout, so I would like to look at what we can do to be proactive, as opposed to denying young people entry to a pub or a nightclub, I would much rather think about positive incentives,” said Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf.
This is in response to the vaccination figures dropping as younger people became eligible for vaccinations.
Recently Scotland recorded their lowest daily new vaccinations in 3 months and they have found that more than 30% of those aged 18-29 have not been vaccinated at all.
COVID pass for Scots facing strong opposition
“[A vaccine passport is] probably one of the most pointless and divisive exercises you can imagine,” said Alistair Carmichael, the interim Scottish Liberal Democrat leader.
He expressed concerns for discrimination and suggests that it will neglect those who are not able to get vaccinated for whatever reason.
“If you have got everyone vaccinated then, frankly, you wonder whether it would be worth the expense and hassle,” he said.
“To threaten people in order to get the vaccine I think is the wrong approach altogether and I think it would be massively divisive” he added.
Current COVID-19 situation in Scotland
Scotland’s third wave of COVID-19 was coming to an end by the start of August, but the fourth (and most acute) wave is now in full swing, bringing the total number of cases to around 500.000.
Around 8,242 people have died of COVID-19 in Scotland, with a total of 130,000 deaths across the whole UK.
More than 3,790,000 people have been fully vaccinated in Scotland by mid-September, representing almost 70% of the population.