The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 and The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2022: equality impact assessment

Religion or belief

Background

Attending a place of worship is for many an important role in promoting their spiritual wellbeing and mental health, as well as contributing to a reduction in social isolation and loneliness.

Limitations on attending places of worship (including closure of in person worship) has impacted on people's ability to practice certain aspects of their faith, such as to congregate for worship in line with their Article 9 (freedom of thought, belief and religion) rights under human rights legislation.

Differential impacts

Positive impacts

There is an exception within the regulation for certain purposes, including communal religious worship. Covid Status Certification would therefore not impact on freedom of religion (Article 9).

Negative impacts

People of certain religions may choose not to be vaccinated because it goes (or is perceived to go) against their beliefs. Examples include Muslim or Jewish people if a vaccine contains, or is believed to contain, pork cells, or Orthodox people if a vaccine contains, or is perceived to contain, embryonic cells. An interfaith statement, which urged people to come forward for vaccination, was issued by faith leaders.^[185] The Muslim Council also issued a statement encouraging people to be vaccinated^[186] and ran a vaccination campaign.^[187]

There are also other beliefs and convictions, such as veganism^[188], which may result in a person choosing not to be vaccinated, as it has been tested on animals.

While we encourage everyone to come forward for vaccination, in these circumstances, testing can be used as an alternative to vaccination and mitigates against people being denied access to the regulated spaces.