Nicola Sturgeon has not ruled out younger Scots teenagers becoming eligible for covid vaccination despite official guidance stating it would not be required in the UK.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) - which advises both the UK and Scottish Governments - yesterday concluded the vast majority of children were low risk and would not need jabs to help defeat the pandemic.
Some healthy children over 12 who live with other vulnerable people can have the vaccine, as well as those on the cusp of turning 18.
But that position pus the UK is in marked contrast with other countries - such as the US and Canada - which have mass vaccinated children aged 12 to 17.
Speaking at a covid media briefing in Edinburgh today, the First Minister said Scotland's chief medical officer would write to the JCVI to ask them to keep the decision not to vaccinate under-17s "under close and on-going review".
The SNP leader has previously stated the importance of not contradicting JCVI rulings so the public keeps faith in the wider vaccination programme.
Sturgeon said: "Given it considers the risk of 12-17-year-olds falling seriously ill from covid to be very low, the JCVI is not recommending that we vaccinate all young people in that age group.
"The Scottish Government has always followed the advice of the JCVI, and for good reason, but I am acutely aware that some other countries are vaccinating some younger teenagers - and I consider this extremely important that this is not ruled out here.
"To that end, the chief medical officer is writing to the JCVI asking that the benefit of vaccinating all 12-17-year-olds is kept under close and on-going review, and it takes into account all available data from countries already doing this.
"I think that is very important. If there is a benefit to be got from vaccinating younger teenagers, then it's really important that we make sure we do that."
She added: "In the meantime, we intend to get on with implementing what the JCVI is recommending - and it is recommending that vaccines should be offered to specific groups of 12-17-year-olds."
