Humza Yousaf has talked down the prospect of vaccine passports being introduced in Scotland as a way of forcing younger people to receive covid jabs.
The health secretary said he was "sceptical" of any plan which would mean Scots turned away at the doors of pubs or nightclubs if they could not prove they were fully vaccinated against coronavirus.
SNP ministers and health bosses are mulling over ways to encourage younger adults to get jabs after figures shows that 30% of those aged 18-30 still have not received a first dose, despite being offered.
Boris Johnson announced on Monday that vaccine passports will be introduced in England from September despite opposition from the entertainment industry and Tory MPs.
Final details of how exactly the scheme will work have not been published but the Scottish Government has so far signalled they will not be introduced north of the Border unless absolutely necessary.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, Yousaf said it was not mandatory to receive a covid vaccine and therefore there will always be a minority of people who refuse to have one.
Asked if vaccine passports would help encourage younger Scots to get jabbed, he said: "I'm naturally, and instinctively, sceptical about covid passports for reasons that have been well articulated.
"One of the first meetings I had as cabinet secretary for health was with human rights organisations and they were vehemently opposed to covid vaccine passports, as they were concerned they might increase the inequality gap, and there would be ethical issues.
"I'll give you one example - we know that uptake of vaccines has been lower in the African and Polish communities. Therefore would it be correct to deny entry when some groups may be disproportionately affected than others?
"But I would not rule it out entirely."
Asked when the Scottish Government would make a decision and whether it was swithering on the issue, Yousaf added: "It's not swithering - it's we want to do everything we possibly can, and I would prefer positive incentives as opposed to negative incentives.
"We've had incredible success with our vaccination programme roll-out. I would like to see what we can do to be proactive - rather than denying young people entry into a pub or nightclub.
"But in extremis, we have to think about what else we can do to make more of the population vaccinated as it protects us all."
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish Government would be "considering" the controversial issue, but warned it raises sensitive ethical questions.
Scotland was placed into ‘level zero” of the covid restrictions framework on Monday, with nightclubs staying closed.
However, they reopened in England as part of Boris Johnson’s “freedom day” plan to get rid of all curbs.
But Johnson surprised observers by announcing that fresh restrictions would be placed on nightclubs south of the border from England October.
He said vaccine passports, effectively proof of someone being double jabbed, will be required for entry into nightclubs.
The announcement came as a shock and led to questions over whether such passports could be a pre-condition for other indoor establishments.
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