All 16 and 17 year-olds who are working should be offered the coronavirus vaccine, the Scottish Greens are arguing.
They say that the jobs most people in the age group do are in workplaces where they are at risk of catching the virus.
Many are working in shops or cafes where different households are mixing indoors.
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Currently all over 18s are being offered the jag and the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said that anyone who will be 18 by the end of October can book and appointment or turn up at a walk-in vaccination centre and request the vaccine.
The Greens want to go further and give 16 and 17 years-olds in the workplace the jag as more workplaces open and more rules are relaxed.
Ross Greer, Greens spokesman for young people, said: “Young workers have been consistently put in some of the highest risk environments during the pandemic, particularly key workers in supermarkets and other shops.
“They deserve the same protection as the rest of us through vaccination, so I welcome the Chief Medical Officer’s call to expand vaccinations to all teenagers.
“This has been hugely successful in other countries, with high uptake from young people eager to protect themselves and those around them.
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“We know that Pfizer/BioNTech has been approved down to the age of 12 and is currently being offered to a small number of vulnerable young people or those living with vulnerable family members, so there is no reason why we can’t offer it to at-risk workers too.”
Gregor Smith, Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer, has written to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) seeking a review on vaccinations for 12 to 17 year-olds.
Sturgeon said it is important it was not ruled out completely.
She said: “To that end, the chief medical officer is writing to the JCVI asking that the benefit of vaccinating all 12-17-year-olds is kept under close and ongoing review and that it takes account of all available data from countries already doing this.”
The current guidance is only under 18s with pre-existing conditions or who live with vulnerable people will be offered the vaccine.
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