MIDDLESBROUGH and Newcastle have the lowest uptake of Covid vaccinations in the region, government figures show.

Just 76.2 per cent of Middlesbrough residents and 74.2 per cent of Newcastle residents have had a first vaccine dose up to January 12, according to the latest figures released by the government.

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This is compared to 91.5 per cent in Hambleton and 90.6 per cent of Richmondshire residents who have had their first jab - the highest places for vaccine uptake in the region.

And NHS health leaders are urging the more than one million people in the North East and Yorkshire who remain unvaccinated to come forward for their jab.

Latest figures also show 685,000 people aged under 40 in the North East and Yorkshire have not received their booster jab.

Dr Yvette Oade, the NHS region’s clinical lead for the Covid-19 vaccination programme said: “The achievements of the vaccination programme regionally and nationally have been excellent, but there remains work to be done.

“There was an acceleration of the vaccination programme from during December, so that all eligible adults have been offered Covid-19 vaccine doses.

"In the North East and Yorkshire we have delivered 4.6 million booster jabs and passed the milestone of 17 million doses since the programme began.

“We now need to encourage anyone who hasn’t yet come forward, together with those who have recently become eligible, to receive the vaccine.

"We describe this as the Evergreen offer.

“In the North East and Yorkshire, more than one million people are eligible for vaccination but have not come forward and the proportions of unvaccinated people are similar in each of the region’s four healthcare systems.

"People who are unvaccinated are at risk of not protecting themselves, their families and those around them.”

Dr Oade added: “If you turned down the offer of the vaccine some time ago, it’s okay to have a change of heart and come forward now.

"If you haven’t yet been vaccinated, please speak with your GP or a clinical staff member at your nearest vaccination centre to discuss your questions or concerns.

"They will be pleased to help and will advise you using their expert knowledge and experience.

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“Although some commentators have referred to Omicron as mild in terms of its symptoms, we should be aware evidence shows that for people who are unvaccinated, Covid-19 remains a serious illness, regardless of the variant concerned.”

Here is a breakdown by local authority area of the percentage of residents who have had each vaccine:

 

Area                       1st dose      2nd dose         Booster or 3rd dose (%)

County Durham           86                79.9                          62.8

Darlington                   84.9             78.8                          61.6

Gateshead                  84.3             78.3                           59

Hambleton                  91.5             86.6                           74.6

Hartlepool                   82.6             76.3                           55.8

Middlesbrough             76.2             69.3                           49.5

Newcastle                   74.2              67.8                           48.2

North Tyneside            87.7              81.8                           63.7

Northumberland          89.9              84.4                           68.9

Redcar and Cleveland  86                 80.2                           60.5

Richmondshire            90.6              84.3                           64.9

South Tyneside           82.5              77                              58.5

Stockton                    84.5              77.9                           60.2  

Sunderland                84.6              78.9                           60

Meanwhile, Covid-19 vaccination teams are continuing the vaccination of 12- to 15-year-olds following the return of schools after the Christmas holiday.

For younger children, aged 5 to 11 years, who are significantly clinically vulnerable the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has announced they can be offered one dose of the vaccine.

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