Nicola Sturgeon has announced today that people who are 55 to 59 years old and people who are 50 to 54 years old will be the next to be vaccinated in Scotland.
Many in these age groups - 30% of 50 to 54-year-olds and 36% of 55 to 59-year-olds - have already had the first dose already due to having an underlying health condition.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) previously outlined an order of priority for phase two of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
NHS Scotland follow the JCVI's advice and are vaccinating those most at risk first, and those who work closest with them.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has considered whether groups such as teachers and police officers should be vaccinated next, but concluded that the most effective way to prevent death and hospital admission is to carry on prioritising people by age.
As a result, they have announced that those aged 40 to 49 will be next to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, after everybody in phase one (those over 50 and considered clinically vulnerable) has received theirs.
This means that in phase 2, priority will be given in the following order:
- All those aged 40-49
- All those aged 30-39
- All those aged 18-29
These groups will be vaccinated once all those in phase 1 (the over-50s and most vulnerable) have received a jab.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, Covid-19 chair for JCVI, said: "Vaccinations stop people from dying and the current strategy is to prioritise those who are more likely to have severe outcomes and die from Covid-19.
"The evidence is clear that the risk of hospitalisation and death increases with age.
"The vaccination programme is a huge success and continuing the age-based rollout will provide the greatest benefit in the shortest time, including to those in occupations at a higher risk of exposure."
NHS Scotland will be in touch with you to arrange your vaccination appointment when you are eligible - you can use our calculator to find out when you will be vaccinated following today's announcement.
Please do not contact your GP practice or NHS health board for a vaccination before then.
