Many Scots aged over 50 will not be able to book an appointment for a covid booster vaccination until December, Nicola Strugeon has said.
The First Minister emphasised the importance of the booster jags during her pandemic briefing to parliament, calling on people to make an appointment using the new online booking system.
Sturgeon said more than 54,000 people have made bookings since the online system opened on Monday.
However, the First Minister said that boosters can only be given 24 weeks after the second jab leaving middle-aged Scots waiting until mid-winter for added protection.
Sturgeon said: “For many in the 50 to 59 age group, appointments will only be possible from December onwards.”
She added: “The vaccination programme, of course, continues to be crucial in reducing the direct health harm caused by the virus."
“The decline in Covid rates in older age groups, and the fall in hospital admissions, may well reflect the impact of the vaccine booster campaign. “I can confirm that more than one million booster jags have now been administered. Over 70 per cent of over 70s have now had a booster. “
We know that a booster jag significantly increases the effectiveness of the vaccine – so this high level of uptake is extremely important, and we will continue to push it up as far as possible.”
All Scots aged 40 and over will be offered a third shot of a coronavirus vaccine, afer the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) - which advises both Westminster and Holyrood - said the move would top up protection and help limit the spread of the virus over winter.
They also said 16 and 17 year olds should receive a second shot.
Booster shots have so far been to offered to people over the age of 60 as well as those with underlying health conditions and frontline health workers.
The First Minister said: "Getting vaccinated remains the single most important thing any of us can do to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities. It is impossible to overstate how important it is to get vaccinated - so if you haven’t already, please do so now."
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