A THIRD of under-30s in County Durham and Darlington have yet to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, figures suggest – weeks after they were invited to get their first jab.

Despite renewed appeals from politicians and a host of pop-up vaccination centres across the region, the latest national statistics suggest a hesitancy among some people aged between 18 and 29.

NHS England data shows in County Durham, 57,495 people aged between 18 and 29 had received a first dose of a vaccine by August 7 – at least 66 per cent of the age group.

It meant around 34 per cent of this cohort were yet to receive a jab at that point, compared to 15 per cent among adults of all ages.

READ MORE: Covid hospital patient numbers fall in North Yorkshire

In Darlington, 10,261 people aged between 18 and 29 had received a first dose of a vaccine by August 7, meaning around 33 per cent of this cohort were yet to receive a jab at that point.

Across the North-East as a whole, 36 per cent of people aged between 18 and 29 had not received a first jab by August 7.

Newcastle and Middlesbrough had the highest estimated proportion of people aged between 18 and 29 not jabbed by August 7 – 44 per cent. Meanwhile, Northumberland had the lowest, with 24 per cent.

The low vaccination rate among younger people comes amid a warning from NHS England that more than a fifth of those currently being admitted to hospital with Covid-19 are aged between 18 and 34 – a figure that is four times higher than the peak last winter.

Dr Stewart Findlay, clinical director for the Covid-19 Vaccination programme, North-East and North Cumbria, and chief officer of NHS County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group urged young people to ignore the "myths and misinformation" surrounding Covid vaccines.

"We know some young people may have been reluctant to have a vaccine due to the many myths and the misinformation circulating on social media," he said.

"The claims that the vaccine can cause infertility, impotence or that people who are young and healthy are better off letting their immune system fight off the virus are all untrue.

"It is vitally important that everyone who is eligible for a jab has not one but two doses of the vaccine, as soon as possible."

Efforts by the Government to get young adults to come forward for a first jab include plans for a Covid vaccine passport from the end of September.

  • Are you under 30 and apprenhensive about getting the Covid-19 vaccine? Let us know why by emailing bill.edgar@newsquest.co.uk

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