More than two thirds of older adults in Scotland eligible for a new one-off vaccine against RSV have been immunised since the rollout began in August.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) said that 68.4% of the eligible population of over-75s have received the jag to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

It is the first time that a vaccine has been available for RSV, which causes cold-like symptoms in most people but can lead to much more serious complications such as pneumonia in the elderly and in young infants.

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Between August 1 and October 13, a total of 202,288 RSV vaccine doses were administered on the NHS in Scotland to adults aged 75 to 79, or due to turn 75 by July 31 next year.

In clinical studies, the Arexvy vaccine against RSV provided good protection against disease for at least two years, although researchers expect that future data will show even longer-lasting protection.

In the meantime, it is being offered as a one-off single dose on the NHS.

Last winter was the worst RSV season in at least six years, with around 4,500 RSV-related hospital admissions in NHS Scotland over the four months from October to January.

RSV typically peaks in the earlier months of the winter season.

PHS said current surveillance for respiratory infections shows a "slight increase" in laboratory confirmed cases, although hospitalisations remain stable and are "lower than they were at the same time point in the last three years".

Previous modelling by scientists at Glasgow and Aberdeen universities estimated that vaccinating at least 70% of eligible over-75s UK-wide would prevent around 3000 deaths and many more hospitalisations and GP appointments.

Acute RSV admissions to hospital by yearAcute RSV admissions to hospital by year (PHS)

The winter vaccination programmes against RSV, Covid, and flu are ongoing.

A separate analysis also newly published by PHS looked at how well the Covid vaccines protected against severe illness and death during last winter. 

Using data from the Scottish Morbidity Record between September 4 2023 and August 25 2024, the report found that vaccination provided an average of around 60% protection against hospitalisation for up to two months post-vaccination where Covid was the primary cause of admission, although this waned to around 23% after six months. 

For mortality, the analysis found that the Covid vaccines provided 80% protection against death from the disease between 14-60 days post vaccination, falling to 57% by 120-180 days. 

The evaluation is only based on adults aged 65 and over who were eligible for vaccination, although future reports will assess vaccine efficiency in other risk groups such as frontline health and care staff. 

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It comes as PHS reports that the Covid variant XEC - an offshoot of the Omicron lineage - accounted for more than 10% of cases circulating in Scotland in the latest genomic sampling. 

XEC was designated as a "variant under monitoring" by WHO in September 2024 due to an observed growth advantage - meaning it can spread more easily - although there is currently nothing to indicate it causes more severe illness. 

Meanwhile, the latest monthly report on pertussis - better known as whooping cough - shows that there had been 6,734 laboratory-confirmed cases in Scotland by the end of September.

This is up by 296 on the previous month, although infections are continuing to decline since a peak of 1,520 in June.

The surge in whooping cough cases has been falling since the summer but still remains much higher than in previous years The surge in whooping cough cases has been falling since the summer but still remains much higher than in previous years (Image: PHS)

Scotland, and the rest of the UK, has been hit by its worst pertussis outbreak in decades, with eight babies in England and one infant under 12 months in Scotland dying as a result of the infection since the beginning of the year. 

Prior to 2024, the last significant outbreak in Scotland occurred in 2012 and 2013, with 1,896 and 1,188 laboratory-confirmed cases per year, respectively.

A combination of lowered immunity as a result of social distancing during the pandemic and falling uptake of the pertussis vaccine has been blamed. 

Expectant mothers are encouraged to get the vaccine during pregnancy to protect newborns, and are also now entitled to the RSV vaccine.