More than half of 12- to 15-year-olds in Scotland have received their first Covid vaccination, first minister Nicola Sturgeon said this afternoon.

Vaccination appointments for all 12- to 15-year-olds have been scheduled, Ms Sturgeon added.

The first minister told MSPs that 53 per cent of 12-15s have had their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

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Ms Sturgeon said: “I can confirm that everyone in that [12-15] age group has now had an appointment scheduled and should have received a letter telling them about that.

Covid and schools: All 12- to 15-year-olds scheduled for vaccination

“I would again encourage all 12- to 15-year-olds not already vaccinated, and their parents and carers, to read the online information about vaccination so that they can take an informed decision about getting the jag.”

FM encourages all 12-15 year olds to read information about vaccination so that they can make an informed decision about taking the jag.

She says 53% of this age group have now received their first jag.

Live updates ➡https://t.co/c96Cf0UYaU pic.twitter.com/hkvcRaV00U

- BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews) October 26, 2021

Last week - when the vaccination rate for 12- to 15-year-olds was 40 per cent - it was announced that secondary school students in Scotland would continue to wear face coverings in class, after new guidance was published by the Scottish government.

Just over a week previously, it had seemed that the government was considering abandoning the requirement for masks in secondary classrooms after the October holidays.

Earlier this month, the EIS teaching union warned that there must be a “significant increase” in the vaccination of secondary students before the requirement for masks to be worn in class is removed in Scotland.