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There is clear clinical evidence that the vaccination reduces the risk of serious harm and we recommend that all adults, even those how have had Covid, should be vaccinated. One of the aims of the certification programme is to promote the uptake of the vaccine and for that reasons antibody status is not within scope. We will keep the parameters for certification under review.

The Scottish Government have been clear and consistent that whilst we strongly encourage those eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccination to do so, the decision is one of personal choice, and we have no current plans to introduce mandatory vaccination, or to impose any penalties relating to this. It is for each employer to consider their own specific circumstances and make sure their approach is consistent with their own existing obligations and relevant legislation.

We will continue to work together and engage with care home providers, staff and health boards across Scotland, to further encourage acceptance of the coronavirus vaccine to protect staff and residents.

While the Scottish Government strongly encourage care home staff to take up the vaccine, we have no plans to make vaccination mandatory for social care staff.

Whilst we strongly encourage those eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccination to do so, the decision is one of personal choice, and we have no current plans to introduce mandatory vaccination, or to impose any penalties relating to this.

Employers should be aware that care home staff working in Scotland are not mandated to receive the vaccine. Each employer will need to consider their own specific circumstances and make sure their approach is consistent with their own existing obligations and relevant legislation.

Our COVID Status Certification scheme is a necessary, proportionate and limited measure targeted towards activities that are a higher risk. This is an alternative to the potential closure of higher risk venues.

We value the work of the Scottish Human Rights Commission and the current scheme takes account of potential issues noted in the Commission’s April 2021 briefing paper. We have addressed a range of more specific potential impacts in our published Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) .

Our decisions are taken, and reviewed on the latest data and clinical evidence . Our review process includes consideration of the impact assessments, such as the EQIA.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03618 on 8 November 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Thrombolysis is already delivered nationwide in a number of hospitals across Scotland.

The rate of thrombolytic treatment and door to needle (DTN) times for thrombolysis are measured through the Scottish Stroke Care Audit (SSCA).

The SSCA 2021 report can be found here: Scottish stroke improvement programme 2021 national report - Scottish stroke improvement programme - Publications - Public Health Scotland . It concluded that variations in thrombolysis rates were a reflection of the different acute stroke pathways and variable access to stroke specialist assessment and management. It highlighted that improving access to early specialist assessment in emergency departments would increase the overall percentage of stroke patients treated and reduce the DTN times.

The Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme team work closely with services and NHS boards to use learning from SSCA to support improvement across the whole stroke pathway, including timely access to thrombolysis.

The Scottish Stroke Care Audit does not currently measure ongoing support for disability needs. As part of the Programme for Government (PfG) stroke commitments, the stroke improvement team Rehabilitation Sub-Group is currently considering future updates to measure rehabilitation service delivery, patient outcomes and experiences.

All patients who require stroke rehabilitation should be offered it. Rehabilitation may be delivered via a variety of inpatient, early supported discharge and community teams.

Booster vaccinations in Scotland started as soon as possible once the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided their advice on boosters, which stated that the booster dose should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course.

858,626 people have received a booster or 3 rd dose to Thursday 4 November, with 604,256 people over the age of 65 having received their flu vaccine. We are working as quickly as we can, prioritising those most vulnerable.

Data on boosters by JCVI priority group is not yet published. We continue to work closely with Public Health Scotland to develop the vaccination data to provide robust statistics that enhance public understanding.

The Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh provide ICU care as a joint service. There are 20 beds in Glasgow and 10 beds in Edinburgh. Further information can be found at: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/specialist-healthcare/specialist-services/intensive-care-paediatric/

As announced in the NHS Recovery Plan, by the end of 2021 the Scottish Government will publish a National Workforce Strategy.

We are co-producing this strategy with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA). We continue to work closely with a range of partners, both individually and collectively, and specifically through cross-sectoral reference groups including the National Workforce Planning Group, National Workforce Forum and the Scottish Partnership Forum (which includes representatives from across health and social care trades unions). Amongst others, we have engaged with the following organisations: (As engagement is on-going, this list will not be exhaustive)

Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland

British Medical Association

Care Inspectorate

Coalition of Care and Support Providers Scotland

Edinburgh University

GMB

NHS Scotland Health Board Chief Executives Forum

NHS Scotland Health Board HR Directors Forum

Integrated Joint Boards

Royal College of Nursing

Scottish Academy of Royal Medical Colleges

Scottish Care

Scottish Social Services Council

Skills Development Scotland

Social Work Scotland

Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers

Society of Personnel and Development Scotland

Unison

Unite

We continue to take representations on the content and scope of the strategy, and welcome views from across the sector.