Covid booster vaccines: the 15 England areas that have given jabs to the fewest elderly care home residents

A “worryingly low” number of elderly care home residents have been reached by the Covid booster vaccine rollout so far, according to Age UK.

It comes as NationalWorld revealed that older adult care homes in England and Scotland appear to be being left behind, despite promises to prioritise them.

In England, only 72.5% of residents in older adult care homes, which primarily serve people aged 65 and over, had had a booster as of 28 November, NHS England data shows. In comparison, 80.7% of the entire 65 and over population had had a booster or third dose.

Care home vaccine data does not specifically include third primary doses, which are given to people with severely compromised immune systems such as those having chemotherapy.

But as care home staff are unable to log third doses on the Department of Health and Social Care’s vaccine tracker, it is thought some may register them as boosters anyway.

Every region in England except London – where vaccination rates are normally low – has vaccinated more 65s and overs than older care home residents.

But there are wide regional variations in the proportion of care home residents reached.

The lowest uptake so far is in the Midlands (an NHS area which covers both the East and West regions), where just 68.4% of the 62,605 residents have had a booster.

That compares to London, where takeup is highest, at 75.9%, and the South West, at 75.8%.

But which council areas in England have vaccinated the fewest elderly care home residents?

These are the 20 areas with the lowest uptake as of 28 November.