Nearly 170 neighbourhoods are still yet to fully protect 60% of over-50s

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Nearly 170 neighbourhoods across England have still not fully vaccinated two-thirds of over-50s against Covid, MailOnline can reveal. 

Scientists warned our analysis — based on official statistics of the country’s 7,000 districts — shows there are huge pockets of the population still vulnerable to the virus.

Ministers aimed to give all in the age group two jabs in order to protect them from the rampant spread of the Delta variant ahead of restrictions being eased back on July 19 ‘Freedom Day’.

But NHS England figures, which go up until August 1, show 29 neighbourhoods across the nation have not yet reached more than 60 per cent of people aged 50 and over.

Some 169 have only reached two thirds of the most vulnerable age groups, who were prioritised for the vaccine and have been eligible since March 17. 

In theory, all could have been fully-jabbed now, given the 12-week spacing gap between doses, which was later shortened to eight weeks to help combat the rise of the now dominant mutant strain. 

Overall, 2.5million over-50s (11 per cent) have not yet got their second jab and 2million haven’t had their first (nine per cent). 

Harehills South in Leeds has reached the fewest over-50s, with just 813 of the 1,562 living in the area receiving their second dose — 52 per cent of the population. 

For comparison, 22 areas have double-jabbed more than 96 per cent of their over-50s, with Morpeth South and West in Northumberland leading the way (96.6 per cent).

Experts warned vulnerable people who have not yet been vaccinated are ‘just as much risk of severe disease and death as at any time during the pandemic’. Even though one jab offers some protection against severe illness, two doses are much stronger. 

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline NHS hospitals in the areas lagging behind could still face huge pressures this winter. Most experts believe there will be another wave of Covid in the colder months.

Professor Hunter said: ‘The important message is that you do not get herd immunity as the virus can still spread even amongst fully vaccinated individuals. 

‘So anyone who has not been vaccinated will get infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus at some point and given that society is now opening up and that we now have the very infectious Delta variant that won’t be long. 

‘If you have not been vaccinated and have not yet had a natural infection, then you at just as much risk of severe disease and death as at any time during the pandemic. 

‘So as we move towards winter those areas with larger proportion of their vulnerable population unimmunised will see increased pressure on their health service.

‘The one caveat is that in areas that have been the focus for high transmission so far it may be that many of these people may have already had the infection and if so are unlikely to get it as bad this time round.’ 

The figures also suggest around three in 10 young adults in England have still not had a first dose of the vaccine, despite renewed appeals from politicians and a host of pop-up vaccination centres across the country. 

Some 69.3per cent of people aged 18 to 29 received a first dose of vaccine up to August 1, according to estimates from NHS England.

This is only a small improvement on the previous week’s figure and is the equivalent of additional 107,000 first jabs for adults under 30. About 2.6million 18 to 29-year-olds remain unvaccinated.

A breakdown of this age group by gender shows vaccine take-up continues to be lower among men than women. An estimated 73.9 per cent of women aged 25 to 29 have had a first dose, compared with 67.3 per cent of men.

Among 18 to 24-year-olds, 71.3 per cent of women are estimated to have received one dose, but only 63.8 per cent of men.

All adults in England have been able to book a first dose of vaccine since June 17.

The Government has urged young adults to come forward for a first jab, while announcing plans for a Covid vaccine passport that would make full vaccination a requirement for entry to nightclubs and other venues from the end of September.

Several pop-up vaccine centres opened across England last weekend, including Circus Extreme in Halifax in West Yorkshire, Burnley FC’s Turf Moor ground, Goodwood Racecourse near Chichester, and the Summer of Love Festival in west London’s Holland Park.

A billboard and social media campaign will encourage people under-30 to have a jab or miss out on fun, with adverts running on Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. 

Food delivery and taxi-hailing companies have also been enlisted to offer discounted rides and meals for customers who have received a jab.

Uber, Bolt and Deliveroo are among the brands who will be offering incentives to encourage younger people to get vaccinated.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said taxi app firm Uber will be sending reminders to all users in August encouraging them to get jabbed.

The company will offer discounted Uber rides and meals on its Uber Eats platform for young adults who receive a vaccine.

Bolt, another ride-hailing app, will offer ‘free ride credit’ to vaccination centres, while Deliveroo will give vouchers to young people who get jabbed.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid urged people to ‘take advantage of the discounts’, adding: ‘The lifesaving vaccines not only protect you, your loved ones and your community, but they are helping to bring us back together by allowing you to get back to doing the things you’ve missed.’

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said there was ‘strong enthusiasm’ among young people so far to get vaccinated, and urged: ‘Please get your jabs as soon as you can and grab a bargain.’