Young teenagers in Scotland could still be vaccinated despite the UK’s expert advisory body not backing jabs for healthy teens aged between 12 and 15.
Professor Jason Leitch has said teenagers could still be vaccinated in the future as the chief medical officers of the four UK nations will now be asked for their views.
Earlier today the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) concluded there was insufficient evidence to support giving jabs to all 12- to 15-year-olds.
This decision was based on concerns over an extremely rare side effect of the Pfizer vaccine which causes heart inflammation.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Prof Leitch did not rule out mass vaccination for teenagers.
He said: “They haven't come down and said do or don't do it - they said we're not recommending it yet - we're going to keep looking.
"The health ministers have written to CMOs and said could you give us advice in the round - not just about the individual risk per kid, but also look at the educational environment, the time off school, the safety of schools.”
"There absolutely could be a decision to roll out vaccination for 12 to 15-year-old’s. The final decision will be with ministers and I would have thought that would be a four-country decision."
It is hoped that a UK-wide policy will be formed following advice from the four medical officers, with the option of overruling the watchdog.
The advisory body found "insufficient" evidence to offer mass vaccination as children are at low risk from the virus.
However an extra 200,000 teens with underlying health conditions will now be eligible for vaccination.
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