VACCINE certificates are set to be introduced in Scotland after MSPs backed the Scottish Government's plans.
In the first major vote since the SNP-Green co-operation agreement was finalised, the party joined the Government in backing vaccine passports by 68 votes to 55.
This afternoon's vote was not to pass legislation, but rather to pass a motion supporting the implementation of vaccine certificates, also known as vaccine passports.
From October 1, the scheme will make a QR code available through a smartphone app – along with a paper alternative for those who need it – which will be scanned before entry is allowed to nightclubs or similar venues, adult entertainment, unseated indoor events with more than 500 people, outdoor unseated events with more than 4000 people or any event with more than 10,000 in attendance.
It is hoped that mandating the use of the certification showing that an individual has been vaccinated against Covid-19 will encourage more reluctant Scots to get the jag so they are able to attend.
READ MORE: MSPs vote to introduce vaccine passports in Scotland - here's when and where you need one
Regulations will be introduced by the Scottish Government and reviewed every three weeks, with the rules to be revoked when they are deemed no longer necessary.
People under 18, those who are medically exempt, participating in vaccine trials or who are employees within venues will not have to show certification to gain entry.
Despite the scheme being voted on by MSPs today, it was not yet finalised, with the detail on a number of issues – including the definition of a nightclub – still to be confirmed.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross (below), in the debate on the issue in Holyrood, took aim at the level of detail in the document.
“I’m really not sure what we’re expected to do as parliamentarians, as people sent here to scrutinise the Government,” he said.
“Nicola Sturgeon announced these plans a week ago – we were told we would get a paper setting out how these vaccine passports would work.”
He added: “Surely, a responsible government should bring forward proposals that are ready to be enacted, further consultation is not suitable if you want the support of members in this chamber.”
The paper said: “We are working with a range of stakeholders to finalise the design of the scheme.
“These stakeholders include local government, NHS boards and businesses/representative organisations in sectors that will be required to implement a certification scheme.”
READ MORE: Vaccine passports will expire in February 2022, MSPs have been told
Covid Recovery Secretary John Swinney (above), also speaking in the debate, said: “As I’ve indicated, the Government has set out details to parliament of the nature of the scheme, we’ve put those proposals to parliament this afternoon as part of an approach to protect a very fragile situation that we face in Scotland today of rising infections and hospitalisation that poses a threat to our national health service.
“We are trying to take proportionate action to protect the public from coronavirus.”
Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie (below), who became a Scottish Government minister in August, set out his position as he made an intervention in the debate.
Previously, Harvie had expressed concerns about the use of Covid status certificates.
READ MORE: Scotland records 12 Covid deaths and nearly 7000 new cases
He said: “There is a very big difference between thinking that this policy should be approved when cases were running at a few hundred a day, to thinking it is worth considering when cases are running at around 7000 a day.
“And once the entire adult population has had the opportunity for both vaccines.”
It was also revealed today that 75.1% of people aged 18 to 29 in Scotland are now estimated to have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Scotland joined Wales in having given one dose to more than three-quarters of young adults with 76.8% of Welsh people aged 18 to 29 having received one jag.
The other two UK nations are lagging slightly behind, with England on 72.8% and Northern Ireland on 71.8%.
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