Question reference: S6W-00475
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 3 June 2021
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 June 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on providing COVID-19 vaccinations for under 16-year-olds.
Answer
We are not currently vaccinating children under 16 years old, except for those seriously at risk. As COVID-19 vaccines are currently unlicensed for those under 16, vaccines can only be offered on an exceptional case by case basis by a prescriber based on a risk assessment of an individual.
Clinical trials are currently underway for vaccination of children and young people, and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is currently reviewing vaccinations for 12-15 year olds.
The Scottish Government continues to engage with vaccine developers and the JCVI so that if trials are successful we are ready to vaccinate younger age groups, if that is what the clinical and scientific evidence supports.