The UK Government's advisors have today said that all over-40s should be offered a Covid booster vaccine. 

Booster jabs are currently being rolled out in Scotland to everyone over the age of 50, as well as people who are clinically vulnerable, carers and frontline health workers. 

Now the UK Health Security Agency says that three doses of the vaccine cuts risk of infection by more than 93%. 

Extending the booster scheme to people over 40 could help to cut transmission of the virus over the winter months, and therefore ease pressure on the NHS. 

But, does the booster rollout for over-40s apply to Scotland? 

Here's what you need to know...

Will over-40s in Scotland get the Covid booster?

Yes - people aged 40-49 in Scotland will be offered a booster vaccine.

Health is a devolved matter meaning the the Scottish government is in charge of decisions on vaccinations. 

The Scottish government has confirmed that all over-40s in Scotland will be offered a booster jab. 

This will come in the form of either Pfizer or a half dose of the Moderna jab, administered six months after the second dose of the Covid vaccine. 

Scotland's Chief Medical officer Dr Gregor Smith said: "These will be offered once the earlier agreed priority groups have had their booster injections to ensure the most vulnerable groups are offered protection first. 

"The 40-49 year old group will son be able to book their own appointments through the NHS online portal - which is now live for 50-59 year olds."

Why are booster jabs being offered?

During a press conference on Monday morning, chairman of the JCVI Professor Wei Shen Lim said that booster jabs "markedly" improved protection against Covid. 

According to the JCVI, not only does the booster strenthen existing protection, but it "extends the duration of that protection against serious disease". 

Meanwhile, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam cited the situation in Israel, where there has been a reduction in cases following the booster rollout, as evidence of the success of the vaccine scheme. 

He said: "They’re showing that in people aged over 60 in Israel, after a messenger RNA booster, and compared with simply having received the first two doses of Pfizer – in the case of Israel three to four weeks apart – They are observing a tenfold reduction against all Covid infections, an 18.7-fold reduction against hospitalisations, and a 14.7-fold reduction against mortality, and that’s on top of the initial course of Pfizer.

"So I believe therefore that if the booster programme is successful, and with very high uptake, we can massively reduce the worry about hospitalisation and death due to Covid at Christmas, and for the rest of this winter."