A total of 895,184 influenza (Adult 18+), 187,009 influenza (Children 6 months to 17 years) and 690,663 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to the Scottish population since 4 September 2023 during the Winter Vaccination period in new data released by Public Health Scotland. Information on vaccine uptake for the COVID-19 and influenza vaccine programmes is available via the Public Health Scotland – vaccination surveillance.
As yet, COVID-19 has not been shown to follow the same seasonal patterns as other respiratory pathogens.
The number of acute Covid-19 admissions to hospitals has decreased slightly to 258 in the week ending 15th October, from 275 the previous week.
However, the number of patients in hospital with Covid has increased to 389 from 347.
One of the few ways of tracking Covid within the community is through analysis of RNA levels in the waste water. Below are the last published figures for Kirkwall, 11th October 2023.
Weekly deaths registered in Scotland – National Records of Scotland for week 16th to 22nd October 2023
The provisional total number of deaths registered in Scotland in week 42 of 2023 (16th October to 22nd October) was 1,188 (25 or 2% above the 5-year average). There were 30 deaths mentioning COVID-19.
Those figures in more detail:
Deaths involving Covid
- Age 45 -64: 2 deaths, 1 female, 1 male
- Age 65 – 74: 5 deaths, 2 female, 3 male
- Age 75 – 84: 10 deaths, 6 female, 4 male
- Age 85+: 13 deaths, 9 female, 4 male
There were 5 deaths in Care Homes, 1 at Hospital/Non Institutional setting, and 24 in Hospital.
Of the 30 deaths involving Covid, Covid was the underlying cause in 23 of them.
There were 1,188 deaths due to all causes, an excess of 25 taken over a 5 year average. Excess deaths were in: Circulatory +4 and Other Causes +44.
Fiona Grahame