Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that the plans are in place to begin vaccinating people against coronavirus before Christmas.
Speaking to the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, the First Minister said the Scottish Government is "ready to begin that process as soon we receive the first supplies of vaccine".
The first people to receive the vaccine will include health and care frontline workers as well as the most vulnerable members of the public - including those over the age of 80 and in the shielding category.
Ms Sturgeon said that a "significant proportion" of people that fall into this bracket will be vaccinated by spring next year.
She said: "I would reiterate that - subject to regulatory decisions - we remain hopeful that even before Christmas, we will be in a position to start vaccinating people in Scotland against Covid. The Cabinet reviewed the plans for vaccination this morning.
"And I can confirm that we are ready to begin that process as soon we receive the first supplies of vaccine. And we hope that by the spring, a significant proportion of the people who are most vulnerable to covid will have been vaccinated.
"Vaccination, over time, will help us all to return to a more normal pattern of life. And of course that means that a possible route out of the pandemic for Scotland is in sight."
In the wake of the latest vaccine news, the First Minister echoed her appeal for people to continue to abide by lockdown restrictions, saying "we have all the more reason to keep each other safe, as we help each other reach that end.".
