Kids under the age of five in Scotland be given the swine flu jab when the second phase of the Scottish vaccination programme begins in December.
The Health Secretary made the announcement at a briefing about the H1N1 virus in Edinburgh on Thursday, where she also revealed a slight increase in the number of people who have contracted the virus in the past week.
Nicola Sturgeon said that, from December, GPs across the country would be giving the vaccine to children aged between six months and five years.
The programme is expected to run until mid-January.
Ms Sturgeon said the decision had been taken because children in that age range are more at risk of getting swine flu and are more likely to require hospitalisation.
To date, 38 people in Scotland have died from swine flu.
The latest figures from the Government show an estimated 21,200 people contracted H1N1 over the past seven days, with 128 admitted to hospital.
That equates to 191 per 100,000 people in Scotland, compared to 114 last week.
Ms Sturgeon said: "This week's figures show a slight increase in the number of people consulting their GP with flu-like symptoms but a slight decrease in the total number of estimated cases and the number of positive samples.
"The trend to the figures is relatively stable this week, and although they can fluctuate, we are prepared for any possible rise in cases throughout winter. This will be helped when the full impact of the vaccination programme is felt.
"In the meantime, I would urge people to do everything they can to protect themselves, including getting any medical advice they feel necessary, maintaining strict hygiene levels and taking advantage of the vaccination programme.
"The vaccination programme is well underway, and I would ask everyone who is in the priority groups to accept the vaccine when invited to do so by their GP."
