Chamber and committees

NHS Scotland territorial health boards are working closely with GPs to coordinate the appropriate delivery mechanisms to meet the Vaccination targets outlined in the Scottish Government's Covid -19 Vaccines Deployment Plan. Different sized GP practices and vaccination sites will process different numbers of vaccines per day depending on populations they service, their demographic grouping and geographical spread.

As part of the Covid Vaccine Programme, National Service Scotland were commissioned to produce a comprehensive Service Delivery Manual which guides the process of identifying suitable sites, this is underpinned by analysis carried out by Scottish Government Geographical Information Systems, National Records of Scotland Demographic Statistics and coordination with NHS and Local Authorities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34331 on‎ 29 January 2021 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission of COVID-19 occurs, which is a challenge for suppressing the virus as there is a risk of individuals mixing with others, whilst not presenting symptoms. The Scottish Government does not hold information on the transmission rates of COVID-19 by only asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic people. For this reason, the decision-making process around asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, as well as any other COVID-19 related issue, will continue to be based on the available scientific and medical evidence from:

• the World Health Organisation;

• the UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies;

• the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group.

Please note that SAGE and the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group, as well as other UK advisory groups such as the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M), discuss the emerging evidence of transmission of COVID-19 separately. Each of them also publishes separate papers, which may cover the asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission of the virus.

The paper ‘SARS-COV-2: Transmission Routes and Environments, 22 October 2020’ (available from SAGE meetings, October 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) reported that:

“The contribution of asymptomatic infection to transmission will depend on:
‎ • the relative degree of infectiousness (this is approximately 1/3 as infectious compared to those who have or go onto have symptoms [45]),
‎ • the proportion of infections that are asymptomatic (recent estimates suggests 20% (95% CI 17%–25%) of individuals remain asymptomatic throughout the infection [45])
‎ • the relative number of contacts (asymptomatic cases are unlikely to self-isolate so may have more contacts than symptomatic cases). It is plausible therefore that both asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases make a significant contribution to transmission. People with mild symptoms (paucisymptomatic), who feel otherwise well, still carry large amounts of virus in the upper respiratory tract, which might particularly contribute to transmission of SARS-CoV-2 [43].”

The Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland’s Strategic Framework was published on 23 October 2020, setting out how we will work to suppress the virus to the lowest possible level and keep it there, while we strive to return to a more normal life for as many people as possible and tackle the four harms we know the virus causes. We will keep our approach under review, informed by scientific evidence and continued engagement with business and communities.

Sources:
‎ 43. Cevik M, Tate M, Lloyd O, Maraolo AE, Schafers J, Ho A. SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV viral load dynamics, duration of viral shedding and infectiousness: a living systematic review and meta-analysis. medRxiv 2020: 2020.07.25.20162107.
‎ 45. Buitrago-Garcia D, Egli-Gany D, Counotte MJ, et al. Occurrence and transmission potential of asymptomatic and presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections: A living systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Medicine 2020; 17(9): e1003346.

The Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan published in October 2020 outlines the actions we are taking forward in response to the mental health impacts of COVID-19. Over £1.1 million additional funding has been made available directly to third sector mental health organisations during the pandemic to help services respond to increased demand.

More generally, a £350 million emergency communities fund comprising 8 funding pots was announced in March 2020 to ensure local authorities, community groups and the third sector were able to support people and communities affected by COVID-19.

In response to a demand for a move away from resilience to recovery, a £25 million Community and Third Sector Recovery Programme (CTSRP) was announced in the Programme for Government 2020-21, as part of Scottish Government’s £350 million emergency response to coronavirus.

The CTSRP aims to support Third Sector Organisations (TSOs), such as charities, community groups, social enterprises and voluntary organisations that are, in turn, supporting people and communities through the move from lockdown to recovery; bringing clear practical and mental health benefits.

The CTSRP opened for applications on 21 September and can be accessed via the SCVO funding page Community & Third Sector Recovery Programme – SCVO .

The Scottish Government policy on all vaccination programmes are an formed by advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent scientific advisory committee that advises all administrations in the UK.

The JCVI currently does not recommend offering flu vaccine routinely to all those with Inflammatory Bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and Colitis unless they have other risk factors due to treatment or associated chronic conditions. There are however options for GPs and other clinicians to offer flu vaccine to any of their patients if they feel that their patients would benefit from a flu vaccine.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33792 on 18 December 2020. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government continues to take action to protect tenants from unlawful evictions. The private residential tenancy, introduced in December 2017, provides additional security of tenure and protections for tenants including in relation to wrongful terminations. At the start of a new tenancy, landlords’ must provide their tenant with prescribed information to ensure tenants are informed of their rights. Information makes clear that where a landlord does not follow the correct legal process or threatens to physically remove a tenant from their property or changes the locks that this is an unlawful eviction and a tenant should report the matter to Police Scotland.

To support tenants and ensure they are aware of their rights particularly during the pandemic, the Scottish Government has carried out two social media campaigns in April 2020 and during July and August 2020. A third campaign is underway and launched on 8 December 2020. It includes up to date information on the protections in place for tenants, including in relation to unlawful evictions, and signposts tenants to Citizens Advice Scotland for information and support.

The Scottish Government has also published, in collaboration with Public Health Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland and Shelter Scotland, a comprehensive guide to support and advice for those living in the private rented sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, which specifically included information on illegal evictions. This resource is available on the Scottish Government’s website at: Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for private tenants - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

In August 2020 I wrote to all tenants in Scotland highlighting the extra protections in place to prevent evictions during the pandemic and where tenants could access help and support. As well as my letter, all private tenants were sent a shortened printed copy of the tenants resource, ensuring maximum reach and sign-posting to the full online version.

In addition, the Scottish Government has been working with the Private Rented Sector Resilience Group which has engaged with Police Scotland about the need for officers to be aware of illegal evictions law and to discuss any identified issues as and when they arise to ensure tenants’ rights are recognised and fully enforced.