For the past two years, all people 65 and over have been invited for a Covid booster jab to protect them during the winter months.

In 2022, the jab was offered to all over-50s.

But the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), experts who advise the UK government, said only those aged 75 and over should get the option this year.

Health boards across the country are starting to roll out their vaccination programme this month.

Ms Crawford, chief executive of Age Scotland, said the criteria for vaccinating people, particularly between the age of 65 to 74, felt confusing.

She said: “I can’t really understand the rationale behind the fact that if you’re going for a flu vaccine, you wouldn’t be able to just have a Covid vaccination at the same time.

“It does feel as though the government is moving to vaccinate to the bare minimum and that feels really puzzling.”

Ms Crawford said the confusion could cause to some older people to change how they go about their daily lives through the winter and it could lead to more loneliness and isolation.