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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

Nicola Sturgeon to make covid statement on vaccine passport extension in run-up to Christmas

Nicola Sturgeon will announce today whether the covid vaccine passport scheme will be extended in the run-up to Christmas.

The First Minister will use her regular weekly update to MSPs on the battle against coronavirus to set-out her government's thinking on the controversial measure.

Under current rules Scots must show proof of being vaccinated before they can enter a nightclub, music venue or a large outdoor sporting event.

But the SNP leader last week confirmed that plans to extend the scheme - if approved - could mean cinemas, theatres and other hospitality venues being added to the list from December 6 onwards.

Many businesses are opposed to any extension of the scheme - and one of the Scottish Government's own health advisers has questioned its effectiveness.

Professor Stephen Reicher said the planned extension of the scheme could “increase the level of resistance” to vaccination among people who are already sceptical.

He also said there was “absolutely no evidence” that the introduction of vaccine passports in Scotland has encouraged people to come forward for their jab so far.

A Scottish Government briefing paper published last week argued that the only alternative to an extension of vaccine passports was the return of lockdown-style restrictions.

Alex Cole-Hamilton has demanded MSPs should be able to vote on whether the vaccine passport scheme needs to be extended.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader said: “This expensive and unworkable scheme is a very deliberate diversion from the real crisis in our NHS and the SNP's failure to build a contact tracing system that actually allows us to stamp out chains of infection. Ministers are just trying to look busy.

“We know transmission continues even among people who have received two vaccine doses. All this system does is give people false confidence that they will not pick up covid-19 and encourages risk taking.

"The SNP and Greens still haven’t provided any factual evidence that their covid ID scheme is keeping Scotland safer. No wonder it has been attacked by everyone from health experts to civil liberties groups.

"Any expansion of the use of covid ID cards shouldn't just be at the whim of Nicola Sturgeon. There should be a full parliamentary debate and vote on these proposals."

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