In the latest data released by Public Health Scotland since 4 September 2023 (the current Winter 2023 vaccination programme) 1,332,104 Influenza (Adult 18+), 379,840 Influenza (Children 6 months to 17 years) and 1,102,241 COVID-19 vaccines were administered in Scotland. Among adults aged 75 years and older, 75.3% have been vaccinated against influenza and 74.9% have been vaccinated against COVID-19 during the current vaccination programme (as at 19 November 2023). 

There was a slight increase in the number of acute COVID-19 admissions to hospital to 204 from 197 of the previous week.

Hospital occupancy had decreased slightly to 400 from 419 the previous week.

The monitoring of Scotland’s waste water for fragments of coronavirus’ ribonucleic acid (RNA) in local systems continues to show positive levels over much of the country.

The last published data for the area covered by Kirkwall’s sewage system was on 13th of November 2023.

Death rates are almost twice as high in the most deprived areas of Scotland. In the last 40 years, overall life expectancy has improved and people are living longer. However, in the last 10 years improvements have stalled and more recently have started to reverse. 

The recent fall in life expectancy was mainly due to COVID-19. Over the last decade the high level of drug-related deaths, the increase in deaths from dementia and Alzheimer’s and a slow down in the decrease in coronary heart disease deaths contribute to the stall in life expectancy improvements.

The report by NRS also shows that there are now more people aged 65 and over than people under 15. This trend is mainly driven by the post-war baby boom generation getting older. But also, by people living longer and fertility in Scotland falling. Fertility is now at the lowest recorded level and is one of the lowest in Europe. These factors all contribute to Scotland’s ageing population. 

Published by National Records of Scotland on 23rd of November are the latest stats on weekly deaths. The provisional total number of deaths registered in Scotland in week 46 of 2023 (13th November to 19th November) was 1,241 (44 or 4% higher than the 5-year average). There were 28 deaths mentioning COVID-19.

Those figures in more detail.

Deaths involving Covid-19

• Age 45 – 64: 1 death, male
• Age 65 – 74: 5 deaths, 3 female, 2 male
• Age 75 – 84: 10 deaths, 8 female, 2 male
• Age 85+ : 12 deaths, 5 female, 7 male

There were 2 deaths in Care Homes, 2 at Home, 23 in Hospital and 1 in an other intuitional setting.

Of the 28 deaths involving Covid, Covid was the main cause in 18 of them

There were 1,241 deaths due to all causes. There was an excess of 44 deaths taken over a 5 year average.

There were excess deaths in dementia/Alzheimer’s + 12, circulatory +12, respiratory +4, and other causes +39.

Fiona Grahame