Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-04192

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 22 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it is increasing awareness in the medical community about ME, including its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

We are investing £4.5 million of funding to implement the Neurological Care and Support Framework. Through the framework, we have funded Action for ME to produce an online CPD learning module on ME/CFS for GPs and health professionals in Scotland, which aims to support person-centred care, informed by good practice and current research. In June 2021, officials presented the module to the Scottish Deans Medical Education Group, who agreed to consider introducing into medical school curriculums.

We are also liaising with NHS Education Scotland who have committed to producing a Practice-Based Small Group Learning module on ME/CFS following publication of the final National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, and we understand that this work is now underway.

Question reference: S6W-04190

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 22 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to establish centres with specialist services for people with ME.

Question reference: S6W-03813

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to ensure that people who are medically exempt from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and therefore do not have a vaccine certificate are still able to (a) access services and venues and (b) travel internationally.

Vaccination is the best way to keep you, your friends, family, and community safe and we encourage everyone to consider getting the vaccine. In the vast majority of cases a successful route to safe vaccination can be found.

If vaccination is not straightforward, support is available to help people achieve the benefits of protection from the Covid-19 vaccines. Local vaccination centre can help answer questions about the vaccine and can advise what arrangements may be put in place to enable safe vaccination. In the rare cases where that support does not lead to vaccination, the offer of an exemption will be a part of the process.

A person who is identified as clinically unable to safely receive the vaccine will receive a secure paper exemption certificate in the post.

These certificates are fully equivalent to the certificates provided for all other people who have been fully vaccinated and can be used for access to domestic venues and will also permit smoother inbound entry to the UK. The Scottish Government have published ‘ Vaccine certification scheme – information for business and event organisers ’ and a ‘ toolkit ’ which provides guidance and example certificates, so venues are fully aware that they should be accepting the certificate issued to medically exempt individuals for entry to their venue or event.

Question reference: S6W-03978

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many COVID-19 vaccination centres are in operation, and how this compares with the number in operation during the initial vaccination programme.

NHS health boards lead on the local delivery of the vaccination programme. Vaccination centres have frequently changed throughout the programme, with some facilities being repurposed, and drop-in clinics being made available as we have had to exercise flexibility.

As such, the Scottish Government do not hold the requested level of information.

Information regarding the number of vaccination centres operating in each health board area, and their opening hours can be found on NHS inform.

Question reference: S6W-03922

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many COVID-19 vaccination centres have been operating in each NHS board area on a (a) full-time and (b) part-time basis, broken down by month since January 2021.

NHS health boards lead on the local delivery of the vaccination programme. Vaccination centres have frequently changed throughout the programme, with some facilities being repurposed, and drop-in clinics being made available as we have had to exercise flexibility.

As such, the Scottish Government do not hold the requested level of information.

Information regarding the number of vaccination centres operating in each health board area, and their opening hours can be found on NHS inform.

Question reference: S6W-03882

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to each of the COVID-19 vaccines that are in use in Scotland (a) whether it will provide an update on what the efficacy is, broken down by (i) first and (ii) second dose, and (b) when a booster vaccine is recommended.

Analysis published by Public Health England (PHE) showed high effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccinations against hospitalisation after 2 doses. The Pfizer vaccine is 96% effective against hospitalisation after 2 doses, with the AstraZeneca vaccine being 92% effective against hospitalisation after 2 doses. These are comparable with vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation from the Alpha variant.

A study published by PHE on 22 May demonstrated high effectiveness levels of 2 doses of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines against the Delta variant. 2 doses offer protection levels of 88% and 60% for Pfizer and AstraZeneca respectively after 2 weeks.

A single dose of either vaccine offers protection of 33% against Delta variant after 3 weeks, compared to 50% against the Alpha variant.

Booster doses can be offered any time at least 6 months after the second dose and help to reduce the risk of hospitalisation due to coronavirus over the autumn/winter period. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice on boosters indicates that booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines provide a substantial increase in vaccine-induced immune responses.

Further information on vaccine efficacy and effectiveness is available online at:

Overview - COVID-19 vaccine information and resources - COVID-19 vaccinations - COVID-19 - Our areas of work - Public Health Scotland

Greenbook COVID-19 chapter 14a (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Question reference: S6W-04153

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03890 by John Swinney on 2 November 2021, whether it will publish (a) any modelling of a potential spike in COVID-19 cases following COP26, including the number of cases anticipated and (b) the details of any contingency plans that are in place for the NHS to respond to any rise in COVID-19 cases following COP26.

We continue to monitor and assess the pandemic closely and carefully. The Scottish Government develops a range of epidemic scenarios to provide the best public health advice to Ministers. These are presented in the Modelling the Epidemic report published by Scottish Government. These models consider a range of influences on the epidemic, of which COP26 is one. The Scottish Government will continue to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the NHS in the next few weeks in terms of estimated number of infections, hospital bed demand, and ICU bed demand. The scenarios within the Modelling the Epidemic report account for the start of the COP26 conference beginning in Glasgow on 31 October.

Based on current results, we do not have any concerns about COVID rates among Blue Zone passholders. As of 13 November, the cumulative test positivity for Blue Zone passholders, based on lateral flow tests, was 0.08%.

The Scottish Government continues to explore all options for how it will respond to the evolving pandemic and we will not hesitate to strengthen the protective measures in place if it proves necessary to do so. Given the uncertainty and risk we face as winter progresses, it would not be responsible to rule anything out at this stage.

Our Health and Social Care Winter Overview published in October outlines a package of over £300 million of investment in NHS and care services this winter to help address these pressures. This is shaped by our four key principles: maximising capacity; supporting staff wellbeing; supporting effective system flow, and improving outcomes.

Question reference: S6W-03807

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the COVID-19 vaccine certification (COVID passport) scheme to other businesses such as hospitality settings and smaller indoor events.

We will keep the scope of our certification scheme under review to ensure it remains necessary, proportionate, and targeted in order to continue helping to drive vaccination rates up as high as possible; and providing an additional layer of protection over the winter months as we seek to achieve the difficult task of keeping COVID under control while keeping our economy fully open.

Our decisions are taken, and reviewed on the latest data and clinical evidence. Our review process includes consideration of the impact assessments, such as the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment .

Our certification scheme is limited to activities that are a higher risk and is an alternative to the potential closure of higher risk venues. We have made clear that certification will never be a requirement for access to public services.

Question reference: S6W-03891

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Holding Answer by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group has met since the start of 2021, and on what dates.

Question reference: S6W-04325

Current Status: Withdrawn

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