Scottish children may receive Covid-19 vaccines as early as Autumn 2021

Children could be included in the second round of Covid-19 vaccines as early as autumn this year, Scotland’s national clinical director has said.

Scotland’s vaccination programme as it stands is focusing on older age groups, moving towards the younger age groups in stages, with a target to vaccinate all of Scotland’s adult population by the end of July this year.

However, little has been said about vaccination in children due to the fact they are less affected by Covid-19 and the youngest children tend not to spread the disease.

Children could be vaccinated from Autumn of 2021.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus briefing on Friday, national clinical director Jason Leitch said it might not be long until children will also receive their jags.

He said: "There are ongoing trials of vaccination in younger people right down to small children, run by higher education institutions in Scotland and around the world with the drug companies.

"In time, I will expect that we will almost certainly vaccinate children against Covid.

"It might be round two of vaccination, maybe autumn, winter of this year if all of those trials go well.”

Such a move could see concerns about the spread of Covid-19 in schools and other childcare settings lessen.

A total of 1,717,672 Scots have received their first coronavirus vaccine, an increase of 29,064 from Thursday.

Meanwhile, a total of 108,197 have had their second jag, with 8,139 getting this on Thursday.

Ms Sturgeon said 96 per cent of 65 to 69-year-olds had had their first dose of the vaccine, along with 39 per cent of 60 to 64-year-olds, 33 per cent of 55 to 59-year-olds and 27 per cent of 50 to 54-year-olds.

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