Scotland is experiencing a rise in Covid-19 infections as circumstances of two Omicron variants rise, a public well being knowledgeable has warned.
Professor Linda Bauld stated the Omicron sub-lineages BA.4 and BA.5. are a part of the rationale for the rise in circumstances and a "small however not vital" rise within the variety of individuals in hospital.
Nevertheless, she stated that vaccines are working effectively within the overwhelming majority of individuals and are making a distinction between the chance from an infection and the chance of extreme illness.
Newest knowledge from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) confirmed that round one in 40 individuals in Scotland had Covid-19 within the week ending June 2, up from one in 50 the earlier week.
Professor Bauld, a professor of Public Well being on the College of Edinburgh, informed BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I believe it is fairly clear to me from a number of the knowledge we have seen that we're actually in one other wave of an infection, if not already will probably be quickly and that actually appears to be the case in quite a few nations, and that isn't a giant shock as a result of we did anticipate we'd have a rising stage of infections each three or 4 months probably, that is what worldwide colleagues have stated.
"It may be shocking to individuals although as a result of it is the summer time, and so they're used to listening to from us (that) the climate is best so persons are extra outdoors and subsequently we scale back the dangers via our behaviour.
"That is true, however what we have is Omicron and a distinct kind of it, BA.4 and 5 - there's these Omicron sub-lineages which appear to be rising in quantity within the UK and I believe that is a part of the reason why we're starting to see extra circumstances, and now we have seen a small however not vital rise within the variety of individuals in hospital as effectively."
Professor Bauld stated that vaccines provide good safety in opposition to extreme illness, however she thinks it seemingly that the provide of a booster jab could also be prolonged to a wider vary of teams within the autumn, past what the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advisable.
The JCVI is recommending care house residents and employees, frontline care staff, these aged 65 and over and adults aged between 16 and 64 who're clinically weak ought to be given one other dose of Covid-19 vaccine within the autumn.
Professor Bauld stated: "Your safety does not fall off a cliff, it wanes progressively. Your safety in opposition to getting contaminated really wanes fairly shortly and the vaccines usually are not sterilising so they don't seem to be defending us in opposition to the chance of an infection.
"Your threat of extreme illness... I believe even past months after your dose, you will not be having such a strong antibody response however different bits of the immune system, B and T cells, are nonetheless working in opposition to getting very unwell.
"In older teams whose immunity does not final as lengthy the waning seems faster. Will now we have extra individuals vaccinated within the autumn? Sure, for the over 65s and immuno-supressed, that is what JCVI says. Whether or not they'll prolong it to these of us in our 50s and different teams is one thing they're reviewing.
"Should you had been to ask me what I believe, I believe it is seemingly they'll change that eligibility, however we are going to wait to listen to.
"We have to give individuals as a lot safety as we will and we're, like influenza, going to have I believe common vaccinations sooner or later for Covid-19, not for everybody however for a lot of teams."
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