COVID-19 vaccination: FOI release

Information requested

1) Why has the 'fully vaccinated' definition changed in Scotland and it is now required to have a booster dose included if 2nd dose was given more than 4 months ago? EU covid certificate defines 'fully vaccinated' as a person who had the last dose taken no more than 270 days before traveling. EU says there are no studies expressly addressing the effectiveness of boosters on the transmission of COVID-19. Can you provide scientific evidence that was used to shorten the 'expiry date' on the 2nd
dose in Scotland?

2) Why negative test result or proof of recovery from COVID-19 is not included in the Scottish COVID pass?

3) What is the rationale for introducing 10-day self-isolation for unvaccinated people (including double vaccinated people) if research suggests that both vaccinated and unvaccinated can spread the COVID-19 virus?

4) International travel rules in Scotland - What's is the rationale for asking unvaccinated people (including double vaccinated people) to continue self-isolation after arrival even if day-2 PCR test is negative?

5) Scotland is a part of UK, receives funding from the UK government, and agreed that the UKGovernment should lead on the purchase and supply of vaccines. However, when it comes to introducing COVID-19 restrictions, these always are more strict for Scottish citizens. There are studies suggesting that population density is positively correlated with incidence and mortality rates for COVID-19. Scotland is the most sparsely populated country in the United Kingdom and despite that restrictions are harsher than in England. Such decisions are more damaging to the Scottish economy and make Scotland even more dependent on UK government funding. Can you explain what is the reason for introducing stricter COVID rules in Scotland than in England?

6) COVID-related restrictions hit the economy and what's more, are causing an increase in mental health issues amongst our society. Is the Scottish Government going to take the responsibility for that? Is there anything done to address this problem?

7) What are the procedures for registering conflict of interest for Scottish Government members and for members of the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group? What actions are taken if there is a conflict of interest?

8) Is the Scottish Government conducting any research with regards to booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines and their impact on natural immunity (especially in the 20-50 age group)?

9) can you provide the data on the following:
a) the number of positive COVID-19 cases between September 2021 and December 2021 split by month, vaccination status (unvaccinated, single dose only, 2 doses), sex, and by age group*.
b) the number of COVID-19 tests done between September 2021 and December 2021 split by month, vaccination status (unvaccinated, single dose only, 2 doses), sex, and by age group*.
c) is the split of the test type (PCR, lateral flow) available for a) and b) ?
d) The number of deaths caused by the COVID-19 virus between September 2021 and December
2021 split by month, vaccination status (unvaccinated, single dose only, 2 doses), sex, and by age
group*.
e) What was the vaccination rate in each month between September 2021 and December 2021 split by number of doses, sex, and age group*?
*lowest breakdown available"

Response

1) Why has the 'fully vaccinated' definition changed in Scotland and it is now required to have a booster dose included if 2nd dose was given more than 4 months ago ? EU covid certificate defines 'fully vaccinated' as a person who had the last dose taken no more than 270 days before traveling. EU says there are no studies expressly addressing the effectiveness of boosters on the transmission of COVID-19. Can you provide scientific evidence that was used to shorten the 'expiry date' on the 2nd dose in Scotland?

Under Section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

On 26 November 2021 the World Health Organisation classified a new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, which was spreading rapidly in a number of countries. In response to the threat from Omicron, on 29 November 2021, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised both extension and acceleration of the booster vaccination programme advising the following:

• All adults aged 18 years and over be offered booster vaccination in descending age order
• A reduction in the interval between primary and booster vaccinations from 6 to 3 months

The full JCVI statement on the COVID-19 booster vaccination programme and the Omicron variant was published on 7 January 2022 and can be found here.

In order for Covid Status Certification to aid in responding to the ongoing COVID-19 threat the Scottish Government took the decision to introduce an expiration date on the primary course of vaccinations and require a booster consistent with the evidence on vaccine waning and effectiveness against Omicron.

I have included links to research and analysis papers below in relation to COVID-19 vaccines that you may find helpful:

• Monitoring reports of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• COVID-19: vaccine surveillance strategy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of concern |medRxiv
• Duration of Protection against Mild and Severe Disease by Covid-19 Vaccines | NEJM

2) Why negative test result or proof of recovery from COVID-19 is not included in the Scottish COVID pass?

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested.

However, I have included information below which you may find helpful.

Proof of recovery was added to the international travel section of the NHS Scotland Covid Status App on 9 January 2022. There is no paper alternative as the text or email message the person received from test and protect when they tested positive can be used as an alternation way of demonstrating the
date they tested positive for COVID.

The NHS Covid Status App only displays polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results and does not yet display Lateral Flow Device (LFD) results. We continue to make improvements to the app in line with changes to policy and expect to be able to display LFD results in due course.

You can find further information about the NHS Scotland Covid Status on the NHS Inform website here.

3) What is the rationale for introducing 10-day self-isolation for unvaccinated people (including double vaccinated people) if research suggests that both vaccinated and unvaccinated can spread the COVID-19 virus?

The changes to self-isolation policy, implemented on 6 January, were informed by clinical and public health advice, the high percentage of population protection due to the booster programme - with over 70% of the eligible population at the time of changes having had received three doses of the vaccination - and the real world evidence on the efficacy of booster vaccination in light of the Omicron variant. By including the appropriate safeguards around repeated testing and vaccination protection, this mitigates transmission risk whilst shortening or removing the self-isolation period for many people, without putting progress in suppressing the virus at risk. More information on the efficacy of the boosters can be found here:

• Update to JCVI advice on booster vaccination in adults, 15 November 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk),
• JCVI statement on the adult COVID-19 booster vaccination programme and the Omicron variant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• COVID-19 Greenbook chapter 14a (publishing.service.gov.uk).

It may be helpful to clarify, the self-isolation advice for non-fully vaccinated close contacts to self-isolate for 10 days remained in place. However, accounting for the above, advice changed for all index case - regardless of vaccination status - and for both fully vaccinated close contacts (which is defined as having three doses of the vaccine, plus 14 days) and close contacts aged up to 18 years and 4 months.

4) International travel rules in Scotland - What's is the rationale for asking unvaccinated people (including double vaccinated people) to continue self-isolation after arrival even if day- 2 PCR test is negative?

Currently non-fully vaccinated travellers must take a day 2 and day 8 PCR test, this is owing to the 10 day incubation period of the virus. A 10 day isolation period, with negative tests on days 2 and 8, provides much greater reassurance to limit the risk of importation.

The REACT study shows that unvaccinated arrivals are three times more likely to test positive compared to those fully vaccinated and those who have not received a vaccine are more likely to pass on the virus to others than those who are fully vaccinated. Infection from the virus results in an increased risk of severe illness, hospitalisation, and death for unvaccinated individuals, which could contribute to increased pressure on the NHS should international arrivals become ill in Scotland.

REACT study shows fully vaccinated are three times less likely to be infected - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Fully vaccinated travellers are not required to isolate upon arrival into Scotland. Please note, from 04:00 11 February 2022 testing is no longer a requirement for all adults who have completed a full course of an approved vaccine.

Non vaccinated travellers will still be required to take pre-departure tests and a PCR test on or before day two, but the requirement for isolation will end and they will no longer have to take a day eight test.

5) Scotland is a part of UK, receives funding from the UK government, and agreed that the UK Government should lead on the purchase and supply of vaccines. However, when it comes to introducing COVID-19 restrictions, these always are more strict for Scottish citizens. There are studies suggesting that population density is positively correlated with incidence and mortality rates for COVID-19. Scotland is the most sparsely populated country in the United Kingdom and despite that restrictions are harsher than in England. Such decisions are more damaging to the Scottish economy and make Scotland even more dependent on UK government funding. Can you explain what is the reason for introducing stricter COVID rules in Scotland than in England?

The Scottish Government will always act first and foremost to protect the people of Scotland and while we pay close attention to decisions taken in the rest of the UK it is not for the Scottish Government to comment on the decisions that the UK Government takes on its own domestic measures, and the UK Government is fully entitled to make its own decisions on the measures they bring in. Our approach has broadly in line with both the Welsh and Northern Ireland Governments and is currently significantly less stringent than that of many European countries where strict rules have been in place.

We began a phased removal of the additional Covid measures introduced before Christmas in response to the Omicron variant, starting with the removal of attendance limits and 1 metre physical distancing requirements for large-scale outdoor events on Monday 17 January. This continued on Monday 24 January with the removal of the attendance limits for indoor events, the removal of the requirement for nightclubs to close, and the removal of the requirement for 1 metre physical distancing and table service in hospitality premises where alcohol is served. From 31 January, we also recommended that employers implement hybrid working patterns where possible. This marks a further step in our careful, phased approach to easing protective measures.

However, Covid cases remain high in Scotland and it is important that we proceed with caution. Therefore we are still asking people to be cautious and sensible, and our key baseline measures for slowing the spread of Covid will remain in place. We do not want restrictions to be in place longer than is necessary but protecting public health is paramount. We are required by law to regularly review all protective measures that are currently in place to ensure they remain reasonable and proportionate.

6) COVID-related restrictions hit the economy and what's more, are causing an increase in mental health issues amongst our society. Is the Scottish Government going to take the responsibility for that? Is there anything done to address this problem?

Under Section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Our Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan published in October 2020 sets out our response to the mental health impacts of the pandemic, containing over 100 actions (Coronavirus (COVID-19): mental health - transition and recovery plan - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). The Plan is backed by a £120 million Recovery and Renewal Fund. Improving mental health and wellbeing is a key priority in the 2021/22 Programme for Government (A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22 (www.gov.scot).

7) What are the procedures for registering conflict of interest for Scottish Government members and for members of the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group? What actions are taken if there is a conflict of interest?

Scottish Government: Please find the policy around registering a conflict as a civil servant of the Scottish Government attached.

COVID-19 Advisory Group: Group members are invited to declare any personal or business interest which are relevant to the work of the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group. Interests are recorded in a register that is publically available. The group’s full register of interests can be found at:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-government-covid-19-advisory-group-register-of-membersinterests/.

If a matter under consideration by the group gives rise to a potential conflict of interest, group members should declare that interest at the relevant meeting for recording in the minutes and may be asked to recuse themselves from discussions of that matter.

8) Is the Scottish Government conducting any research with regards to booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines and their impact on natural immunity (especially in the 20-50 age group)?

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested.

9) can you provide the data on the following:
a) the number of positive COVID-19 cases between September 2021 and December 2021 split by month, vaccination status (unvaccinated, single dose only, 2 doses), sex, and by age group*.
b) the number of COVID-19 tests done between September 2021 and December 2021 split by month, vaccination status (unvaccinated, single dose only, 2 doses), sex, and by age group*.
c) is the split of the test type (PCR, lateral flow) available for a) and b) ?
d) The number of deaths caused by the COVID-19 virus between September 2021 and December 2021 split by month, vaccination status (unvaccinated, single dose only, 2 doses), sex, and by age group*.
e) What was the vaccination rate in each month between September 2021 and December 2021 split by number of doses, sex, and age group*?
*lowest breakdown available

While it is our aim to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested, specifically regarding COVID-19 tests split by vaccination status, sex and by age. The reason why we don’t have this information is because responsibility for these statistics sit with Public Health Scotland (PHS). This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested.

Some of this information is publicly available, under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

PHS publish a weekly COVID-19 statistical report that includes a section on COVID-19 Cases and deaths by Vaccine Status, presented as age-adjusted rates. In the latest report from 9 February 2022 this can be found on page 30 COVID-19 statistical report - 9 February 2022 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland
Further, PHS include vaccinations on their COVID-19 daily dashboard, with data available to download.

Alternatively, should you have further queries regarding these statistics or wish to see further breakdowns, you may contact PHS directly using their FOI page and they may be able to help you.

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The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202200272978- Information released

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