A PASSPORT TO A JUMP IN YOUNGSTER VIRUS JABS
Swinney ponders plan to boost the use of scheme
PLANS to increase use of corona passports would drive up vaccine take-up in young people, says John Swinney
The Deputy First Minister said the “core purpose” behind the scheme was to encourage more people to come forward for a jab.
Swinney made the comment as he refused to say which parts of the hospitality and leisure sector the scheme could apply to if it is extended.
He said: “The core purpose of applying the vaccination certification scheme was to increase take-up of the vaccine.”
Swinney argued this has been achieved, saying: “In September, 53 per cent of 18-to-29-year-olds were vaccinated; by November 1 that had risen to 68 per cent.
“That’s a significant impact of the Covid certification scheme.”
His comments came after opposition politicians and business leaders reacted angrily to the proposal to extend the scheme, which requires people to prove they have had two Covid vaccines before they can enter nightclubs and some large events.
Expanding the scheme could see it applied to pubs and restaurants as well as smaller leisure venues.
Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said such a move would be a “massive step backwards”, while Leon Thompson, of industry body UKHospitality, said it would be “extremely alarming to hospitality businesses welcoming customers to their Covid-safe venues”.
But Swinney said no decisions had yet been taken, arguing that ministers were being open that it is a possibility. The Government is “signalling that, given the situation around the pandemic and the serious situation we face, and are likely to face over winter, we have to be ready to take additional measures”, he said.
Asked which parts of hospitality and leisure it could be applied to, Swinney said: “We’ve not made any decisions. The reason we’ve not made any decisions is Government has got to be satisfied any decisions it takes are proportionate in the context of the state of the pandemic.
“The Government is going through a process of considering what it needs to do in the context of the prevalence of the virus.” Scotland’s vaccine passport scheme was introduced at the start of October and applies to nightclubs, unseated indoor events with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor events with more than 4000 people, and any event where more than 10,000 people are present.
But with fears infections could spike again from the “concerningly high level”, Swinney told MSPs at Holyrood on Tuesday that the country is in a “precarious and unpredictable” situation.
Purpose of scheme was to increase take-up of jab JOHN SWINNEY DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER