More than half of all young teenagers in Scotland have had their first dose of the Covid-19 jab compared to just one in five in England. 

In Scotland, young people aged 12 to 15 have been able to be vaccinated from September 20.

Public Health Scotland confirmed that 117,627 young people from the age group had received their first dose of the vaccine, equivalent to 50.2 per cent.

The take up in the age group has been faster than any other under the age of 65.

However, across the UK progress has been slower with the latest figures for England showing that just 18.9 per cent of 12-15 year-olds have received a dose of the vaccine.

Linda Bauld, professor of Public Health at the University of Edinburgh, says it comes down to convenience, not hesitancy. 

Speaking to Sky News she said: “Is there more hesitancy in England? There’s no evidence at all to support that, it’s simply that we decided to arrange the system differently and I think that we were fortunate that that decision ended up to be the right one.

“I was at a vaccine clinic yesterday and there were many young people I assume in that age group just dropping in.

“So the convenience of not having a letter necessarily sent to the parents, of course we want parents and carers to discuss it with children, and of course in the vast majority of cases they are accompanying them to the vaccine centre, but young people can just drop in. 

“A couple of our more rural health boards they’ve still been doing it in schools or with appointments but I think the convenience, we reached 50 per cent just yesterday, is the biggest driver.”