Coronavirus: One in four under-35s in Herts not vaccinated

Over the past year, 1.12 million residents across the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICS area have received at least one dose of the vaccine – as part of a mammoth vaccination programme.

More than one million have had both doses – and just over 666k have had their booster jab too.

But latest data shows that younger people across Hertfordshire are significantly less likely to go for the vaccine than their older counterparts.

According to the data, more than 95 per cent of all over-70s in the county have had at least one dose of the vaccine – and 92 per cent have had the booster too.

Image: PA

But take-up of the vaccine declines with age – with around one in four adults aged 18 to 35 years old opting not to have a vaccine at all.

Earlier this week it was suggested that up to 90 per cent of those currently being treated for covid-19 in hospital ICUs nationwide were not fully vaccinated.

And deputy leader of the county council Cllr Morris Bright – who is also executive member for public health and community safety – says he would urge anyone who is unvaccinated in Hertfordshire to make time to get the jab.

Making the case for vaccination – and boosters – he says they reduce the risk of severe and long-lasting infection.

And, he says, they impact not only on those who are vaccinated but those who are around them too.

“There is no doubt that a lot of spreading that is going on is in family environments – where you have people at home catching it and spreading it to parents, siblings or grandparents,” he said.

Adding: “If people spare a little bit of time and get boosters it will make life safer for themselves and for those around them.”

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he acknowledged that the number of those vaccinated in younger age groups may ‘seem quite shocking’ when compared to other age groups.

But he said that the other way to consider the figures are that three out of four have taken the vaccine.

He points to initial fears that even fewer young people would take up the vaccine – with the younger generations believing it wasn’t something that would affect them.

And despite suggesting that 75 per cent vaccination in these age groups is ‘a good rate’, he stresses he would like it to be higher.

The latest data breaks down vaccination by age groups and by district and borough.

Across the county it shows that the proportion vaccinated in the 18-24 age group is 73.9 per cent; in the 25-29 age group is 72.4; the 30 to 34 age group is 73.3; and the 35 to 39 age group is 77.3.

But there is some variation between take-up across South West Hertfordshire.

In Dacorum the proportion of 18-24 age group who have had the first dose of the vaccine is 76.1 per cent; among 25-29 it’s 73.4 per cent; 30-34 it’s 75.4 per cent and amongst 35-39 year-olds it’s 78.9.

In Hertsmere the proportion of 18-24 age group who have had the first dose of the vaccine is 72.6 per cent; among 25-29 it’s 68.6 per cent; 30-34 it’s 68.5 per cent and amongst 35-39 year-olds it’s 73.8.

In St Albans the proportion of 18-24 age group who have had the first dose of the vaccine is 79.4 per cent; among 25-29 it’s 78 per cent; 30-34 it’s 77.4 per cent and amongst 35-39 year-olds it’s 80.9.

In Three Rivers the proportion of 18-24 age group who have had the first dose of the vaccine is 78 per cent; among 25-29 it’s 76 per cent; 30-34 it’s 76.6 per cent and amongst 35-39 year-olds it’s 81.1.

In Watford the proportion of 18-24 age group who have had the first dose of the vaccine is 71.3 per cent; among 25-29 it’s 68.9 per cent; 30-34 it’s 68.9 per cent and amongst 35-39 year-olds it’s 72.8.

Meanwhile latest Hertfordshire data shows that in the seven days leading to December 29 there were 21,043 Covid-19 cases recorded in the county – equivalent to a case rate of 1759.9 per 100,000 population.

A month earlier – on November 29 – the data show the case rate across  Hertfordshire was 511 per 100,000.

On December 28 there were 95 people with Covid-19 in hospital – which is 28 more than a week earlier.