Only 56.6% of young adults in Leicester have had a first jab

INITIATIVES LAUNCHED TO BOOST THE TAKE-UP RATE

LEICESTER is among several big cities in England where less than two-thirds of young adults are yet to receive their first Covid-19 jab.

Nearly three million young adults in the UK have not had the first dose of a vaccine, according to NHS figures.

A total of 2.9 million 18 to 29-year-olds are estimated to be unjabbed, including nearly 2.5 million in England.

Wales is the only nation to have managed to give a first dose to more than three-quarters of young adults, with an estimated 75.8 per cent having received one jab.

Scotland is next on 73.2 per cent, followed by England on 70.8 per cent and Northern Ireland on 66.3 per cent.

The figures have been published by the UK’s four national health agencies and cover vaccines delivered up to August 18.

The latest estimate of 2.9 million 18 to 29-year-olds who are unvaccinated is only slightly lower than the previous estimate of 3 million one week ago.

There are 60 local authority areas where less than two-thirds of young adults are likely to have received one dose.

These include Leicester (56.6 per cent), Manchester (54.5 per cent) and Leeds (58.8 per cent).

Birmingham is the local authority in England with the lowest estimated percentage of 18 to 29-yearolds to have received one jab (47.1 per cent), according to analysis by the PA news agency.

The next lowest is Coventry (47.9 per cent), followed by Nottingham (50.6 per cent), Liverpool (52.1 per cent) and the London borough of Islington (53.4 per cent).

Areas with the highest estimated take-up among young adults include South Oxfordshire (99.8 per cent), Woking (99.4 per cent) and Elmbridge (98.6 per cent).

Several initiatives have been launched in recent weeks to encourage take-up among young adults, including renewed appeals from political leaders and pop-up vaccination centres.

In England, a number of food delivery and taxi-hailing companies have been enlisted to offer discounted rides and meals for customers who have received a first dose.

Efforts are now being stepped up to increase vaccinations among 16 to 17-year-olds, with letters and text messages being sent to everyone in this age group in England.

Professor Sir Keith Willett, head of the Covid-19 vaccination programme in England, said: “Thanks to the dedication and hard work of NHS staff, and the teenagers who have already come forward for their jabs, the NHS has administered more than 125,000 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to 16 and

At 47.1 per cent, Birmingham is the local authority in England with the lowest estimated percentage

17-year-olds, protecting themselves, their families, and their friends from the virus.

“The vaccine is safe and effective with nearly nine in 10 adults already taking up the offer, and I would urge anyone eligible, especially those 16 and 17-year-olds heading back into education or training, to get their life-saving jab.”

The figures come as new research suggests the Covid19 vaccine rollout in England has directly averted between 91,700 and 98,700 deaths.

Previous estimates had put the figures between 81,300 and 87,800 deaths. The vaccination programme is also believed to have directly averted over 82,100 hospital admissions, up from the previous estimate of over 66,900 admissions, according to Public Health England.