Vaccine passports not the answer
As of last Friday, all those accessing nightclubs or large indoor or outdoor events across Scotland are required to provide proof of double COVID vaccination – a vaccine passport.
It is a move which has been introduced by the Scottish Government with the intention of driving up vaccination rates in groups where there has been some hesitancy, including younger people.
It is a policy which has faced widespread opposition. There has been enormous concern expressed from business representative bodies, worried about the cost of implementation, and the practicalities of having to check the ID on entry.
Similar concerns have been raised by football clubs as to how they will handle tens of thousands of supporters arriving at a stadium and have to check the status of each and every one prior to entry. At the very least, the costs will be substantial.
Despite the claims made by the Scottish Government as to the benefits of this policy, it has been widely criticised by experts in the area of epidemiology and public health. The COVID-19 Recovery Committee at Holyrood, of which I am deputy convenor, has heard evidence that, far from encouraging individuals to take up double vaccination, the introduction of passports could have the opposite effect, with increasing distrust, and actively discourage vaccination.
Moreover, there are serious issues of human rights and civil liberties which are raised by the introduction of this scheme, with the Scottish Human Rights Commission saying that“the case has not been made”for vaccine passports.
Whilst it is true that many other European countries have introduced vaccine passports, every other single one also allows, as an alternative, a negative COVID test. Scotland is now the only country in Europe that requires proof of double vaccination exclusively as the price of entry to certain events.
The whole situation descended into chaos last Thursday night after the introduction of the new NHS Scotland app, with thousands of people across the country struggling to download it and enter their details in time for the new policy.
There is no convincing evidence base for this policy, which was pushed through parliament on the back of SNP and Green votes, despite all the concerns that have been raised. The Scottish Conservatives have been clear that we, along with the other opposition parties, cannot support such a flawed scheme.
This all comes against the backdrop of continuing serious concerns about the state of the NHS, with long waiting times for treatments, exceptional delays at A&E departments, and a crisis facing the ambulance service.
While problems with ambulance call outs have undoubtedly been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, I was raising concerns long before COVID appeared about a lack of ambulance cover across Perth and Kinross. This is an issue that should have been fixed years ago, and we are now living with the tragic consequences of a failure to take action at that time.
• Murdo Fraser always welcomes feedback from constituents. He can be contacted at The Control Tower, Perth Airport, Scone, PH2 6PL, by email on murdo. fraser.msp@parliament.scot or by telephone on 01738 553990.