The Pfizer coronavirus vaccine has been approved for use for 12 to 15-year-olds in Scotland, the UK medicines regulator confirmed earlier today.
Previously the jab was only approved for use in all adults over the age of 18 and unpaid carers or clinically vulnerable people aged 16 and 17.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that a ‘rigorous review’ was carried out to test out the safety, quality and effectiveness of the jab on the younger population.
Experts concluded that the vaccine is “safe and effective”, with the benefits of the jab ‘outweighing’ the risks.
What does this decision mean for Scotland’s vaccination programme?
The Scottish Government has so far followed the majority of advice issued by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The group advise the government’s across the UK on who should be prioritised for vaccination - with experts looking at factors such as age and underlying health conditions.
So far, the JCVI is yet to make a decision on what this means for the future of the vaccine rollout in Scotland.
A significant chunk of Scotland’s adult population is yet to receive their first Covid jab.
Data released by Public Health Scotland shows that a quarter of Scots adults are yet to receive their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
Less than half (48.8%) have been fully vaccinated to fight against the virus.
What has Nicola Sturgeon said on the news?
The First Minister said that the latest development in the race to vaccinate Scotland against Covid ‘made her heart sing’.
Sturgeon also indicated that the Government would wait on the JCVI making a decision on the vaccine for that younger age group.
Speaking at a Covid briefing today, she said: “Any good news on vaccines makes my heart sing. And I think given the challenging figures we’re seeing right now, all good news on the vaccine is welcome.
“We will have to consider that with the other UK nations and wait for the advice that will come from the JCVI.
“If there is a move to vaccinate that age group, we need to consider the supply implications of that, over what timescale that would be possible given the supplies of the vaccine and how we plan the programme to develop in that way.
“Is it not the case that the MHRA decision this morning means that children in that age group will suddenly start being vaccinated next week or in a few weeks time. There is work to be done there, but it is good news.”
Who is next to be vaccinated in Scotland?
The NHS Scotland website says that adults aged 30 and over are now being offered their first dose of the coronavirus vaccination. This will then be followed by Scots aged 18 to 29.
It is hoped that all Scots adults will have been offered a first dose of the vaccine by July this year.
More than 3.3m Scots have received their first Covid jab, with 2.1m now fully vaccinated.
