Measure will provide confirmation of vaccination when required for foreign travel.

A service that allows people travelling abroad to access their record of vaccination status themselves has launched.

A vaccination status letter can be downloaded from the NHS Inform patient portal or -  for those not online - requested in the post via a Freephone Covid Status Helpline.

Only those planning to travel to a country or territory where a record of vaccination status is needed as an entry requirement should download the record or request it.

While there are no countries currently requiring vaccination status to travel, international travel restrictions can change quickly requiring such measures to be in place.

The measures are intended to ease the burden on the NHS by removing the need for people to ask their GP for a status record.

As Scotland’s vaccination programme progresses, vaccination status will be replaced by digital Covid Status Certificates, which will include vaccination and testing data to be used for outbound international travel.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith said:

“Given the risk of returning with infection, and especially of introducing new variants of the virus, we continue to be highly cautious about international travel. Everyone should continue to limit their travel abroad and while I understand the need for some people who want to reunite with family, when it comes to holidays, my advice continues to be play it safe and staycation this summer.

“For those that do need it, this new service will provide people with a record of their vaccination status for outbound international travel.

“They should only access their record if they are planning to travel within 21 days and it is a requirement of their destination.”

Background

People will be able access their Covid-19 Vaccine Status online, by logging on to www.nhsinform.scot/covid19status.

People who have lost or forgotten their username or password will be able to create new ones by selecting 'forgot username' or 'forgot password' options. A Freephone Covid Status Helpline will allow people to get the record posted to them.

It can be contacted on 0808 196 8565.

The Scottish Government continues to urge a highly cautious approach to international travel, given the risk of new variants. The four UK Chief Medical Officers have said that green-list status should be the exception, rather than the rule, with countries added to the list only where there are very good reasons for doing so.

 If you are intending to travel abroad you should:

• check the entry requirements for your destination country on the UK foreign travel advice pages
• get up-to-date information from the website of your destination country
• check the re-entry requirements for your return to Scotland
• only request a vaccination record if it is absolutely required and you are due to travel in the next 21 days
• The Scottish Government continues to urge a highly cautious approach to international travel, given the risk of new variants. The four UK Chief Medical Officers have said that green-list status should be the exception, rather than the rule, with countries added to the list only where there are very good reasons for doing so.

   If you are intending to travel abroad you should:

  • check the entry requirements for your destination country on the UK foreign travel advice pages
  • get up-to-date information from the website of your destination country
  • check the re-entry requirements for your return to Scotland
  • only request a vaccination record if it is absolutely required and you are due to travel in the next 21 days

Face Mask Exemption Guidance

According to gov.uk medical exemption for wearing face masks applicable when :
• Where a person cannot put on, wear, or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment or disability (within the meaning of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010), or without severe distress
• Where a person is providing a lip-reading service to a person they are travelling with

Common conditions include

Severe respiratory condition
Severe mental health condition
Autism
Dementia
Learning disability

If you feel you fit the above criteria and require such a medical exemption letter you must
Submit a request to the practice at least 4 weeks before travel in writing with an explanation of what you feel is the medical condition that fits the above criteria – this can be emailed to bmc@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Pay a fee of £30 prior to submitting the request - collect the letter in person.