COVID-19 vaccine certificates application issues: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
1. How many people failed to download their Covid vaccine certificates via the new app in the period between Thursday launch and Saturday lunchtime, compared to those who were successful?
2. How many people failed to get a paper version or PDFs of their Covid vaccine certificates in the same period, compared to those who were successful?
3. What specifically was the part of the NHS system that failed, and why?
4. Please supply all correspondence between relevant staff working to fix the technical fault during the above period.
5. Please supply details of any issues that were flagged up to senior management about problems highlighted during the testing of the app, before it was released to the public.
Response
1. How many people failed to download their Covid vaccine certificates via the new app in the period between Thursday launch and Saturday lunchtime, compared to those who were successful?
Answer: This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested as the Scottish Government does not hold unique user information to be able to provide an answer to this question.
2. How many people failed to get a paper version or PDFs of their Covid vaccine certificates in the same period, compared to those who were successful?
Answer: This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested as the Scottish Government does not hold unique user information to be able to provide an answer to this question.
3. What specifically was the part of the NHS system that failed, and why?
Answer: In order for the app to provide individuals with their personal health information, the app linked to the NHS-run Community Health Index (CHI) system in order to match the individuals verified identity against their health record. This link operated via a load-bearing system designed to manage the flow of traffic. It was this load-bearing system that failed to manage the sheer volume of traffic correctly.
4. Please supply all correspondence between relevant staff working to fix the technical fault during the above period.
Answer: This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. The testing and resolution of the app was a matter for National Services Scotland (NSS) who are responsible for the day to day running and expenditure of the contractors appointed to create and develop the Covid Status App. However, you may wish to contact National Services Scotland (NSS) who may be able to help you.
5. Please supply details of any issues that were flagged up to senior management about problems highlighted during the testing of the app, before it was released to the public.
Answer: Routine testing is designed to address issues ahead of the launch of any digital product. Any issues highlighted during this routine testing for the app ahead of the release of the app to the public were flagged to senior management of the Scottish Government via the Vaccine Certification Technical Project Board. I have attached the relevant issues log. All issues identified during testing were resolved ahead of the public launch.
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Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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