Just one in six 12 to 15-year-olds have received their first dose of the Covid vaccine in Epping, figures show.

Figures from the UK’s daily Covid dashboard show 1,041 teenagers had received a first dose of the vaccine by October 17 – around 16.1 per cent of the age group, based on the number of people on the National Immunisation Management Service.

Of them, 0.3 per cent had received both jabs.

Across England, just 15 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds had received their first jab by October 17 – compared to 47.4 per cent across Scotland.

The national rate varies between 44.3 per cent in South Ribble, in the North West, and just 3.5 per cent in the London borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Colin Angus, senior research fellow at the School of Health and Related Research at the University of Sheffield, said the difference in uptake across the two nations was down to the way the vaccines were being rolled out to youngsters in the age group.

However, Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced on Tuesday, October 19 that 12 to 15-year-olds in England would also be able to arrange a Covid vaccine through the national booking service.

Mr Angus said: “While hospitalisation and even death from Covid in young people is thankfully very rare, increased vaccine uptake should help to reduce transmission rates in these age groups.”