Five to 11 year olds in Stirling will soon be able to receive a Covid jag after ministers approved the move on health advice.
The latest step was confirmed yesterday after the Scottish Government accepted recommendations from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which said the move could help protect young children in a future outbreak.
It follows the green light being given for children aged 12 and over to receive the vaccine in September last year in response to surging case rates in schools across the country.
Initial discussions with health boards - including NHS Forth Valley - are now underway on the delivery of the latest rollout, with more information set to be announced when plans are finalised.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Throughout the pandemic it has been our intention that we follow the clinical and scientific evidence available to us and I’d like to once again thank the JCVI for their hard work in scrutinising the science and providing clear guidance.”
NHS Forth Valley chiefs confirmed that plans were underway locally to kick start the rollout of the vaccine to the newly eligible group.
A spokeswoman for the health board said: “The Scottish Government is working with all NHS Boards across Scotland, including NHS Forth Valley, to discuss and agree the best way of delivering vaccinations to children aged five to 11-year-olds and they will provide further information when this approach has been finalised.
“In the meantime, parents and carers of children aged between five and 11 don’t need to do anything and should wait for the new national guidance on vaccination timescales and arrangements. Children in this age group with specific medical conditions which place them at greater risk from Covid-19, have already been contacted and continue to come forward for vaccination.”
The latest news comes as the region’s rollout of the vaccine to the 12 and over group means that more than 236,000 people have now received at least two jags in Forth Valley, making up 88.2 per cent of the eligible population.
A total of 193,648 people aged 12 and over have also been given their third booster dose in the region, taking that figure over the 72 per cent mark.
In Stirling, 72,172 of those aged 12 and over have now been given two doses of vaccine, with just over 60,000 people having had three doses.
The latest move to extend the eligible age groups for the vaccine were backed by Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed.
Ms Tweed said: “Throughout this pandemic the Scottish Government has consistently sought to follow the scientific evidence in every decision that has been made.
"This latest decision to follow advice from the JCVI with regards to five to 11 year olds will allow us to increase protection for children, their families and the wider community from future outbreaks.
"At the heart of any policy is the protection and wellbeing of individuals, and I would encourage any parent who wishes to find out more about immunising their child to go to NHS Inform for more information.”
