Covid vaccines set to be approved for 16 and 17 year olds, ITV News understands

Most 16 and 17 year olds across the UK will be recommended to book their first coronavirus vaccine, with vaccine regulators preparing to approve it for college-age teenagers today, ITV News understands.

Ministers are expected to approve advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) which is likely to recommend healthy teenagers aged over 16 be offered a jab.

A wide range of young people can already access vaccines, including 16 to 17 with underlying health conditions and children aged 12 to 15 with certain conditions which make them vulnerable to coronavirus.

Jabs are also available for those aged 12 to 17 who live with an immunosuppressed person, such as a parent or grandparent.

But ITV News understands the vaccine regulators will recommend it is offered to all remaining 1.4 million 16 and 17 year olds in the UK.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would welcome any advice to vaccinate 16 and 17 year olds but said she'd prefer if more young people could be vaccinated.

"If it's safe and if the benefits outweigh the risks for young people I would like to see vaccination extended as far as possible to give younger people the same protection that people like me and you have from vaccination," she said.

"If it is the case that [the JVCI] do give us a recommendation perhaps over the next day or so to vaccinate 16 and 17 year olds, I would take that as a very positive step forward."

On Tuesday, she said she was “veering towards expecting” updated guidance from the JVCI on who next should be offered a jab.

Ms Sturgeon said: “We are waiting on JCVI advice.

"When I say ‘we’, I am obviously referring to the Scottish government, but the UK, Welsh and Northern Irish governments are in the same position.”

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Ms Sturgeon said the four chief medical officers across the UK had written to the JCVI asking them to look again at vaccination advice for young people.

She said: “First, as a priority, I am particularly hopeful that we will see updated recommendations for 16 and 17-year-olds.

“I am hoping for – possibly veering towards expecting – updated advice from the JCVI in the next day or so.”

Minister Michelle Donelan told ITV News the government was expecting a recommendation from the JVCI "imminently" and it will follow whatever advice is given.

There had previously been reluctance to offer jabs to younger people, due to the low risk of them becoming seriously ill with coronavirus.

England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty previously said there was a balance to be struck between vaccinating young people who do not tend to suffer severely from the virus, and ensuring their lives were not disrupted.

Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “With the JCVI apparently about to give the green light to vaccinating 16-year-olds, ministers need to ensure plans are in place to roll out this vital next stage of vaccination while ensuring parents have all the facts and information they need.”

Recent data from vaccines shows those who have received both jabs are half as likely to be infected with Covid-19, a new study has found.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson will head to Scotland on Wednesday for a visit but he's declined an invitation from Ms Sturgeon while in the country.

It comes as ministers mull over how to update the UK's travel rules, with countries set to move categories on the traffic light system on Thursday.

Reports suggested that a number of countries including Germany and Austria were due to be added to the green list of travel restrictions, while Spain would avoid the red list – the most stringent measures.

It is also reported that France will move from the amber plus list - which is likely to be scrapped - back onto the amber list.

Fully vaccinated Britons can return from amber list countries quarantine-free, as can anyone who returns from a green list country.

Returning from a red list country will result in up to 10 days in a quarantine hotel, at the cost of £1,750.