MORE than a third of people in the Braintree district have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

NHS figures reveal 45,777 people had received a vaccine jab by February 28 ­– equating to 37 per cent of those aged 16 and over, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

Of those vaccinated, 29,389 were aged 65 or over – 95 per cent of the age group.

It means 16,388 people aged between 16 and 64 have received a first dose of the vaccine.

The data also reveals variation in coverage between different areas across Braintree.

The proportion of residents prioritised for vaccinations, such as those aged over 65, is one factor that could affect vaccine coverage.

Areas with the highest coverage

  1. Bures Hamlet, Maplestead and the Belchamps, with 46.9 per cent of people aged 16 and over given their first dose.
  2. Halstead East and Colnes, 45.6 per cent.
  3. Coggeshall and Kelvedon, 43.4 per cent.

Areas with the lowest coverage

  1. West Witham, 28.2 per cent.
  2. Braintree South, 30.4 per cent.
  3. Central Braintree, 31.1 per cent.

Across England, 17.2 million people had received their first dose of a vaccine by February 28, covering 38 per cent of the population aged 16 and over.

That includes 9.7 million people aged 65 and over – 94 per cent of the age group.

A small number of people are not included due to their age being unknown.

This week nearly two million people aged 60 to 63 were sent letters inviting them to book a coronavirus jab.

It follows the NHS writing to almost 450,000 people aged 64 last week over getting a first dose, as well as 600,000 at-risk individuals who have recently been asked to shield.

The Government has pledged to offer vaccinations to everyone aged over 50 by the end of April.