Advertisement
Latest updates:

Iran threatens Israel with ‘severe and painful’ retaliatory strike

The 18 areas where a third of people still aren't vaccinated

Jimmy Nsubuga
·3-min read
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 05: A NHS Covid-19 vaccination centre at Westfield Stratford City on December 5, 2021 in London, England. Amid worries over the newly identified Covid-19 Omicron variant, the UK has reintroduced mask-wearing and travel restrictions, but the centerpiece of its pandemic defence remains its vaccination programme, including an accelerated booster schedule. It has cut the recommended time between doses and said all adults will be eligible for boosters by the end of January. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)
A COVID-19 vaccination centre at Westfield Stratford City. (Getty)

As the government scrambles to speed up the rollout of COVID booster vaccines to combat the Omicron variant, millions of people in the UK are yet to receive a single dose.

In 18 local authority areas, a third of people over 12 have not had a first vaccine shot, according to official figures analysed by Yahoo News UK.

Most of the areas with the worst vaccine uptake are in London.

Westminster has the lowest proportion of residents who have had at least one vaccine, with a figure of 59.6% of over 12s.

This is compared to the highest rate in Argyll and Bute of 98.1%.

A member of the public receives a second dose of a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine jab at a temporary coronavirus vaccination centre set up inside St John's Church in west London on December 4, 2021. - Britain, which has been among the hardest hit by Covid-19 with more than 145,000 deaths, is racing to offer third doses of coronavirus vaccines to all adults aged over 18 through its state-run National Health Service. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
People are being encouraged to get their booster shots. (Getty Images)

These are the 18 areas where a third or more of over 12s haven't had a vaccine. The figure refers to the proportion of this group who have had at least one dose

Waltham Forest: 64.4%

Tower Hamlets: 64.8%

Southwark: 65.2%

Newham: 60.4%

Manchester: 65.3%

Nottingham: 67%

Lewisham: 66%

Lambeth: 64.1%

Kensington and Chelsea: 60.1%

Islington: 63.2%

Haringey: 62.9%

Hammersmith and Fulham: 60.9%

Hackney and City of London: 62%

Camden: 62.4%

Brent: 62.2%

Birmingham: 65.8%

Barking and Dagenham: 63%

Westminster: 59.6%

Watch: Boris Johnson promises to ‘throw everything at’ booster jabs effort

Last month, a study from Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed more than four in 10 adults in England who were hesitant about getting a coronavirus vaccine had since been vaccinated.

It found that hesitancy was highest in younger people, but this group was more likely than hesitant older adults to have since taken up an offered vaccine.

Two thirds of those now vaccinated said they had been motivated by wanting restrictions to ease and life to return to normal.

More than half of those who remained unvaccinated said they were worried about potential side effects.

Overall, out of those who remained unvaccinated, 58% were worried about potential side effects, long-term effects of the vaccine (54%) and not thinking that the jab was safe (32%).

Some 55% said they thought the vaccine had been developed too quickly.

People wait in a queue outside a pop-up vaccination centre for the Covid-19 vaccine or booster, in Hammersmith and Fulham in Greater London on December 3, 2021, as rollout accelerates in England. - Britain has set a two-month target to give booster jabs to all adults over 18, as it seeks to minimise the impact from the Omicron variant of Covid-19. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
People wait in a queue outside a pop-up vaccination centre in Hammersmith and Fulham. (Getty Images)

The UK has accelerated the booster programme to help slow down the spread of the new Omicron variant.

In total, 88.9% of people have had a first dose, 81% have received a second jab while 35.8% have been given a booster.

Prime minister Boris Johnson has pledged a booster will be offered to every eligible adult by the end of January.

Professor Linda Bauld, of Edinburgh University, said the target for offering people a third dose of coronavirus vaccine is “very ambitious”.

Read more:

‘Very stringent COVID rules’ may be required to contain large Omicron wave, warns Sage

All 17 people with suspected Omicron at superspreader Oslo Xmas party were vaccinated, officials

COVID: Warning that Omicron could make up half of all EU cases in coming months

Prof Bauld told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme the change is a “big logistical undertaking” and that people “can’t just click a finger after the JCVI made these announcements and get the whole system to shift”.

She spoke out after several people reported being turned away from vaccination centres when they went for their boosters, in the wake of changed advice from experts at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Having previously advised that people should wait for six months after their second dose of a vaccine before coming forward for another jag, the JCVI announced this week that booster doses can be given after three months.

Johnson has urged people to get jabbed so the country is in a strong position for Christmas.

Last week, he told a Downing Street Press conference: “From today we’re going to boost the booster campaign, we’re already planning to do six million jabs in England alone over the next three weeks and now we’re looking to go further."

Watch: Omicron variant: What are the latest travel rules?