Booster data shows up occupations split

Construction, building and transport workers are among those least likely to have received a booster or third dose of Covid-19 vaccine, new figures suggest.

An estimated 39.8% of employees in construction and building trades in England have had an extra dose, along with 42.6% of plant and machine operatives and 43.9% of transport and mobile machine driversandoperatives, says the Office of National Sratistics (ONS).

The figures suggest that people in what are classed as "elementary trades and related occupations" – such as packers, bottlers, industrial cleaning or farm and forestry workers – have the lowest take-up at 37.0%.

This is followed by skilled construction and building tradesat39.8%,theONSsaid.

Occupations with the highest take-up were health professionalsat75.3%,health andsocialcareassociateprofessionalsat58.7%,andthose workinginsecretarialandrelated jobs at 58.4%.

The figures are based on vaccinations delivered up to December 12 for 40 to 64-year-olds in England, and before Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new target of offering boosters to all adults who want one by the end of the month.

This means that the figures may reflecttheorderinwhich people became eligible for a booster or third dose of vaccine,withjabsinitiallyprioritisedforolderandvulnerable peoplebeforebeingextended to younger age groups.

Other occupations with low take-up so far of extra doses include plasterers (33.3%), waiters and waitresses (33.4%), chefs (35.0%), bar staff (36.6%) and fork-lift truck drivers (37.6%).