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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Peter Davidson

Scotland's covid vaccine passport now valid across EU after being formally recognised

Scotland's covid vaccine passport is set to be accepted across the European Union from next week, the Scottish Government has announced.

Vaccine certificates from Scotland and rest of the United Kingdom will be adopted into the EU's Digital Covid Certificate scheme from Monday, November 1.

The move will now make it easier for Scots going to venues or bars/restaurants in more than 40 countries which are already covered by the scheme.

It means the Scottish app will be treated the same as the vaccine certificate scheme currently in place across the EU.

Users of the NHS app will have their jab status updated automatically when they login.

Travellers headings to the countries in the scheme who have downloaded a PDF version with QR codes on their mobile device, or anyone who has a printed letter with their covid status dated before October 7 will need to either download the app or request a new letter.

Scotland's Health Secretary Humza Yousaf welcomed the news that the European Commission had included the UK in the passport scheme.

He said: "Vaccine certification will have a key role to play in helping keep the virus under control as we continue to emerge safely from lockdown restrictions and international travel opens up.

"Due to Brexit we were unfortunately not automatically part of the EU scheme.

"Adopting it will provide a more comprehensive approach instead of the previous bilateral agreements we had with individual countries and should provide more ease of access for travellers.

"Our vaccine certification app is working well and anyone planning to travel can download their Covid status QR codes again following the 'go live' date of the scheme from Monday, November 1.

"If you have a letter, you can request another one when you need one for international travel purposes.

"I would urge anyone who has not yet been vaccinated to do so through NHS Inform Scotland or by dropping into a local vaccine centre."

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