VACCINE passports could be trialled in Scotland, according to the First Minister. However, political opponents warn of the policy’s divisiveness.
When asked about the prospect of vaccine passports being rolled out in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon told Bauer Media that the idea is being considered but unanswered questions remain.
Outlining their opposition, the Scottish LibDems said the scheme would be a step towards "big brother ID cards".
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The First Minister said: “As all of us desperately want to get back to normal, we should absolutely not close our minds to anything that might have a part to play in that.
“But there are still some big questions that have to be asked and answered if we are to satisfy ourselves that vaccine passports are part of the solution.
“For example, while all of the early data is really positive, we still don’t know for sure what the impact of the vaccination is on stopping transmission of the virus.”
Sturgeon added: “There’s then big equity and ethical questions – not everybody can be vaccinated because of some health reasons, younger people at the moment are not currently in the vaccine programme – the vaccines are not currently authorised for younger people yet.
“We’ve got to be clear about the basis on which we are doing this and be able to answer some of those questions. I think that’s work that needs to be done properly and we are keen that we play our full part in doing it.”
When asked about the prospect of a trial taking place in Scotland, Sturgeon said: “I think that’s possible.
“We need to think through all of these things. There’s a lot of work going on – the Scottish Government is fully plugged into that work."
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She added that, regardless of the possibilities, “we’ve got to do it properly".
The First Minister emphasised the need for a cautious approach as lockdown restrictions are eased, even with the vaccine rollout.
She continued: “We see right now across the world – France has just gone into another lockdown, so the virus is still there and it’s still dangerous.
“Chile is a country worth looking at right now which has made great progress in vaccination, but cases are soaring again, its health services are under great pressure and it’s having to re-impose restrictions.
“We’ve got to, in seeking to manage it and get ourselves back to normal, we’ve got to be careful.”
In response, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie condemned the prospect of vaccine passports as a totalitarian measure.
Rennie said: “Vaccine passports will divide the country, effectively make vaccination compulsory and pave the way for a permanent ID card.
“The SNP have always been sympathetic to big brother ID cards and tried to introduce a super ID database incorporating information from 120 public bodies.
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“Liberal Democrats oppose the use of vaccine passports for accessing public spaces, services and events.
“The best way to keep our country safe is suppress the community spread of the virus by vaccinating almost everyone.”
The UK Government is currently developing a "Covid Status Certification Scheme" to be implemented in England.
Many MPs have signed a letter publicly opposing the premise of vaccine passports due to the perceived violation of civil liberties.
According to UK Ministers, the Covid Status Certification Scheme could involve the use of the NHS app, although there will be a paper certificate for those who don’t have access to the digital option.
Three factors are being considered in the development: whether an individual has received the vaccine, if they have recently tested negative for the virus, or if they have a natural immunity due to having tested positive in the previous six months.
Ministers believe the scheme will allow for risk management at large scale events - such as music festivals, sports competitions, and in nightclubs.
However, certification will not be necessary in essential shops or public transport.
It also won’t initially apply to businesses set to reopen in the next few weeks – including, pubs, restaurants, and non-essential retail.
The Prime Minister is expected to set out more detail about the scheme in England tomorrow.
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