Update to vaccine certification Apps

The vaccine certification Apps scheme is being updated as part of  planned changes to reduce the amount of personal information which is shared.

As a result, businesses should now update the customer COVID Check (verifier) App to ensure the QR code shows a green tick when scanned.

In addition, the personal NHS Covid Status app, which allows people to access venues and premises, will also be updated on Thursday October 21. Customers seeking to access venues affected should download the update from Thursday at noon to ensure they have the domestic QR code added to their app so it shows a green tick when scanned to confirm they are double vaccinated.

The green tick will replace the dates of vaccination currently displayed on the app and will reduce the amount of personal health data being shared.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said:

"The roll-out of the green tick display when QR codes are checked will reduce the amount of information shared and confirm only that a person has a valid certificate for use across Scotland. The App is now working well after being introduced more than two weeks ago and updates are an important feature of this kind of technology to ensure it continues to run smoothly.

“Everyone who has the app should download the new version and those who don’t yet have the app should download it from their app store before they need to use it.

"I understand the night time industry has made major adjustments for the introduction of this scheme and other measures, but the sector has complied extraordinarily well with the regulations so far. This is a very limited scheme and we hope this will allow businesses to remain open and prevent any further restrictions as we head into autumn and winter.

"I also want to ensure that as many people get vaccinated as possible and particularly to increase uptake in the younger age cohort, so anything to incentivise that is helpful."

Background

The current version of the COVID Status App will still continue to work until next week to allow people time to download the latest version. Users will eventually have to download the update in order to continue to access venues covered by the scheme.

Updated guidance on using the App has been published.

People using a letter obtained through  NHS Inform as proof of their vaccination status will still be able to use this to access premises covered by the scheme. PDFs downloaded onto a mobile device will also continue to work.

Businesses operating the vaccine certification scheme will need to update the COVID Check app to ensure they have the latest version. Guidance for businesses has been updated which provides advice on the steps they need to take to update the app.

You can download the NHS Scotland Covid Status app or get a paper record of your vaccine status from NHS Inform.

Businesses and event organisers can download the verifier app at the covidcheck.scot website.

Proof of vaccination will be required to enter:

• late night venues open after midnight with alcohol and music and dancing
• unseated indoor live events, with more than 500 people in the audience
• unseated outdoor live events, with more than 4,000 people in the audience
• any event, of any nature, which has more than 10,000 people in attendance

The Covid Status App is for individuals to show their Covid status. This update will add a domestic tab to the App for use in Scotland and when the QR code is scanned only a green tick will be seen. For international travel the full vaccine data will remain available.

The Covid Check Verification App is used by businesses to check QR codes. This update will mean that if a venue scans the international QR code only a green tick will be seen.