The number of people with swine flu in Scotland has risen in the past week.
About 21,500 people are estimated to have caught the H1N1 virus, up from about 17,487 the previous week, according to Health Protection Scotland.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "This rise is not unexpected as we move further into the winter season and we must prepare for an almost continual rise in cases until the effects of the vaccination programme are evident."
NHS Scotland has received just under 550,000 doses of vaccine, about 40% of the total required for the 1.3 million people in priority groups.
The rate of community samples that tested positive for the virus was 44.6%, up from 39% in the previous week. The rate of GP consultations for flu-like illnesses also increased from 105.6 to 114.2 per 100,000.
The figures indicate that 7,500 people consulted their GP, which was rounded up to 21,500 to take into account those who may not have taken medical advice.
As of Wednesday, 908 people had to have hospital treatment since the outbreak in April.
A death in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS area, announced yesterday, brought the swine flu death toll to 33 in Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon said: "With the vaccination programme now well under way, I urge everyone in the priority groups to get the vaccine when invited to do so by their GP. This is a rolling programme but everyone in the priority groups should be vaccinated by Christmas."
Information on the vaccine programme is available by calling the new Scottish swine flu vaccination helpline on 08000 282 816.
