Jason Leitch says spot-checks could solve vaccine passport concerns
From the start of October, fans attending seated outdoor events of more than 10,000 people must prove they have been double vaccinated
Last updated 14th Sep 2021
Spot-checks could be the way to solve concerns around vaccine passports at football matches, according to National Clinical Director Jason Leitch.
From the start of October, fans attending seated outdoor events of more than 10,000 people must prove they have been double vaccinated.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster says they are “concerned” about the practicalities at big grounds and suggests spot-checks would be a more sensible approach.
This would replace the need for blanket inspections of every supporter entering the grounds.
Speaking exclusively to Radio Clyde News, Jason Leitch agrees that would be an effective approach.
He said: "I do and there are scientific ways of working out what that might look like.
"You probably wouldn't check two of 60,000, but you might check a percentage of 60,000.
"You don't need to check all 60,000.
"If you've got a 200 person venue and it's a relatively slow entry then you can probably manage that.
"But the football authorities are right.
"These massive events like rugby at Murrayfield or football at one of our big stadia - it may be that we can use probability and science to get us to a point where we need to know 'X-number' or 'X-percentage' of the big number.
"That will give us an idea of how many are actually being vaccinated.
"Remember this is for those individuals. It's to keep them safe.
"I would expect people to do that in an altruistic way to look after themselves and those around them by being vaccinated".