Covid in Scotland: Children at higher risk of Covid to be vaccinated

The health secretary has confirmed at-risk children over 12 would be offered the vaccine

The Scottish government has confirmed children over 12 who are at higher risk of falling ill from Covid will be offered the vaccine.

However the majority of children, who are low risk, will not be offered the jab for now.

It follows the latest recommendations of the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf confirmed the move after getting his second jab.

He told BBC Scotland: "We always follow JCVI advice and will continue to do so."

UK Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi has confirmed that the UK government will also follow the JCVI advice.

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Some healthy children over 12 who live with other vulnerable people can also have the vaccine, as well as those on the cusp of turning 18.

They will be offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine because it is the only one approved for use in children aged 12 to 17 in the UK.

Those newly eligible, according to the JCVI recommendations, include vulnerable children aged 12 to 15 with:

• severe neurodisability

• Down's syndrome

• a severely weakened immune system, including some children with cancer

• those with profound and multiple learning difficulties.

In a statement on Twitter, My Yousaf said he was the father of a 12-year-old and he knew "feelings are strong" on the subject of vaccinating children.

He added: "Universal vaccination of under 18s isn't recommended. This position is very much being kept under review.

"JCVI on balance would like to review more data on vaccine effect on young people, so prefer a precautionary approach, given the low risk of serious illness from Covid to young people."

Mr Yousaf added that the position for children generally was being kept under review and experts were continuing to look at the data.

Mr Yousaf receivd his second vaccination at Glasgow Central Mosque

Vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds were already able to get the vaccine.

Those aged 12 to 17 will also be offered a vaccine if they live with somebody with a weak immune system.

Teenagers within three months of their 18th birthday will be offered the jab - the aim is to protect people leaving school before they start work or university.

Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith said work was under way to deliver the vaccines in the "forthcoming weeks".

He added: "I know that the committee will give any additional update to advice as soon as the evidence supports this and, in the meantime, we will offer the vaccine to those children and young people currently recommended."

Dr Smith said young people who turn 18 by 31 July were already being vaccinated and invites would continue to be rolled out for those who reach the milestone within a three-month window.

'Controversial strategy'

Public health expert Prof Linda Bauld later told BBC Scotland's The Nine that the JCVI may be waiting to make a decision based on the health outcomes of "millions" of young people vaccinated in countries like the US and Canada.

Experts would be looking at instances of rare heart conditions which may be linked to certain vaccines, she said.

Prof Linda Bauld told The Nine that questions will be asked about vaccination campaigns for young people in the US

"When you have a very big campaign in the US and Canada encouraging parents to bring their teenagers forward for vaccination, as a message to getting out in the face of Delta, parents in the UK will be asking questions about that," Prof Bauld said.

"The benefit of the JCVI waiting to see more teenagers vaccinated is they will get a lot more safety data from the millions of young people in the US. That seems to be the strategy but it is going to be controversial."

'Vaccination is crucial'

Meanwhile, Mr Yousaf confirmed every adult in Scotland has now been invited for a vaccination appointment and added the programme is "significantly ahead of schedule".

However almost a third (30.6%) of younger adults have still not been vaccinated, according to the latest statistics published by the Scottish government.

It is hoped all adults will have received their second dose by 12 September.

Mr Yousaf added: "It is vital that everyone takes the opportunity to get both doses of their vaccination when this is offered. The second dose gives greater and longer lasting protection, and should not be missed.

"Vaccination is crucial to protect ourselves, our families and our communities, and to help us on the path back to normality."

Latest Scottish government figures show 3,981,950 people have now received the first dose of the Covid vaccination and 2,978,746 have received their second dose.

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