Letters inviting people for a Covid-19 winter booster jag will be landing on doorsteps this week.

Those aged 65 and over and frontline health and social care staff will be first in line to receive appointment times in the post.

The booster jabs will be given at the same time as the flu vaccine to those eligible where possible.

Officials said evidence shows that administration of both vaccines together is a safe and efficient way to deliver maximum protection over the winter months.

Health secretary Humza Yousaf said: “As was the case in previous rounds of the vaccination programme, spring/summer boosters have enjoyed very high uptake among eligible groups with 86 per cent of older adult care home residents and 93 per cent of those aged 75 and over gaining an important additional layer of protection at a time when Covid cases rose sharply.

“Following the JCVI’s recommendations, we will roll out the winter booster programme from early September to ensure those most at risk are protected over winter.”

Some people in Scotland have been eligible for a fourth dose of the vaccine, including those older than 75, residents of a care home and the immunosuppressed.

Scottish Government figures released last week showed 93 per cent of those over the age of 75 took up the second booster, along with 86 per cent of care home residents.

Similarly, 72 per cent of the severely immunosuppressed along with 70 per cent of the more broad immunosuppressed group.

Earlier, it was disclosed some 30 per cent of children between five and 11 years old have received a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Among the 12 to 15-year-old cohort, 67 per cent had received a first dose, while 49 per cent had received a second dose.

As of August 8, 81 per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds had received a first dose, while 62 per cent had received a second and 23 per cent were given a first booster.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey released last week found about one in 20 people in Scotland were infected in the week up to July 26, down from one in 19 the previous week.

About 260,800 people were estimated to have the virus in that week, equivalent to 4.95 per cent of the population.