Jab passport app threatens to leave OAPs out in the cold

MORE than half a million Scots pensioners face being ‘left behind’ under plans to introduce digital vaccine passports.

Scotland’s main charity for older people has raised concerns after SNP ministers confirmed they want any vaccine passport to be digital rather than in paper format, with the likeliest option being a mobile phone application.

Age Scotland said an estimated 505,000 people over the age of 65 in Scotland do not have access to a smartphone.

Ministers in Scotland and the rest of the UK are considering a scheme where

‘Level of loneliness excruciating’

people can display their vaccination status using a mobile phone application.

They could then need to show they have received the jab in order to gain access to major events, sports matches or theatre performances.

Adam Stachura, head of policy and communications at Age Scotland, said: ‘Around half of older people in Scotland don’t have a smartphone, so if there is to be some form of Covid-19 vaccine “passport” introduced then it can’t just be in digital or mobile app form.

‘We need to learn the lessons from the vast amount of digital exclusion older people and those on low incomes in particular have faced over this past year and ensure any scheme has the maximum level of inclusiveness and accessibility built into it.

‘The level of loneliness older people have experienced throughout the last year has been excruciating.

‘So adding a barrier which affects more than half a million people isn’t right.’

Age Scotland previously highlighted concerns about the use of a mobile phone proximity app for the Scottish Government’s contact tracing system.

According to Ofcom, 53 per cent of over-65s own a smartphone, which means around 505,000 people in Scotland in this age group do not.

The Scottish Household Survey indicated 47 per cent of over-75s and 65 per cent of 60-74-year-olds north of the Border access the internet using a smartphone.

Using official projections of the 2021 Scottish population by age group, this means an estimated 589,000 adults aged 60 and over do not access the internet on a smartphone.

Earlier this month, the UK Government published an update which said ‘Covid status certification’ could ‘allow some freedoms to be restored more safely’.

Asked on BBC Radio Scotland last week if the SNP is considering a mobile phone application, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: ‘Yes, we are. I don’t want it to be paper. Where it is possible, I want it to be digitally done.

‘I don’t want to put an unnecessary burden on our health service – on our GP practices, for example – with everyone going to them looking to get the bit of paper that says “I’ve been vaccinated” because I want those GP practices to be able to return as quickly as it is possible to delivering all the services they were before the pandemic.’

The UK Government’s review said that a vaccine passport should never be required to access essential public services, public transport or essential shops.

But it went on: ‘Equally, Covid-status certification could potentially play a role in settings where large numbers of people are brought together in close proximity.

‘The Government will begin to trial Covid-status certification in certain settings, including large events.’

Fears have also been raised that some private businesses may demand to see a vaccine passport even if they are not forced to by the Government.

Rachael Hamilton, older people spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: ‘There must be clarity given by SNP ministers that any system they are looking at introducing will not adversely affect our elderly people.’

The Scottish Government yesterday said no decisions had been taken on vaccine passports, but officials were looking at the equality and ethical issues – including consideration of the position of people who do not have access to smartphones.

‘Unnecessary burden’