About this release

This weekly release by Public Health Scotland presents epidemiological information on respiratory infection activity, including COVID-19, across Scotland. Due to the dynamic nature of all datasets included in this report, figures contained within each update may be subject to change in future releases. Any revised figures will then be reflected within the latest update.

Main Points

Overall assessment 14 October to 20 October (ISO week 42): 

• Calls to NHS24 for respiratory symptoms and patient attendances to GP practices for influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection are at low levels, usual for this time of year.
• Influenza A test positivity in the community (CARI) surveillance system and in laboratory confirmed tests remained stable this week.
• RSV activity is lower in the community (CARI) and in laboratory confirmed surveillance than it was at this time last year, though both surveillance systems showed increases in RSV in recent weeks.
• COVID-19 decreased across systems, with levels remaining relatively low following a recent peak in July.
• Since the start of the current winter 2024/25 vaccination programme a total of 384,081 Influenza (Adult 18+), 202,057 Influenza (Children 6 months to 17 years) and 318,904 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Scotland. Among adults aged 65 years and older, 23.9% have been vaccinated against influenza and 22.7% have been vaccinated against COVID-19 during the current vaccination programme.

Further information

The next release will be 31 October 2024.

Find out more

Previous Publications

Versions of the Weekly national respiratory report publication released before 30 November 2022 may be found on the Public Health Scotland website.

Versions of the COVID-19 weekly statistical report publication released before 30 November 2022 may be found on the Public Health Scotland website.

Open data

Open data from this publication is available from the following weblinks:

• Viral respiratory diseases Open Data platform
• Flu and COVID vaccination uptake Open Data platform

Further data

• The COVID-19 Vaccine Wastage datafile was updated on 18 April 2024 to include the most recent information.
• The COVID-19 in Adult Care Homes in Scotland datafile was updated on 27 July 2023 to include more recent information.
• 28 September 2022 COVID-19 statistical report publication contains information on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy in Scotland.
• 2 March 2022 COVID-19 statistical report publication contains information on Highest Risk (shielding patients list)
• 7 November 2023 Community Acute Respiratory Infection (CARI) surveillance in primary care contains information on flu Vaccine effectiveness in community settings.
• 25 May 2023 Interim 2022/23 influenza vaccine effectiveness: six European studies, October 2022 to January 2023, contains information on flu Vaccine effectiveness in hospital settings.
• 13 January 2024 Estimated number of lives directly saved by COVID-19 vaccination programs in the WHO European Region, December 2020 to March 2023, contains information on lives saved due to COVID-19 vaccination