More than half of people in Epping Forest have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, figures reveal.

NHS data shows 61,235 people had received a vaccine jab by March 28 – equating to 57 per cent of those aged 16 and over, according to the latest population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

Of those vaccinated, 49,230 were aged 50 or over – 93 per cent of the age group.

It means 12,005 people aged between 16 and 49 have received a first vaccine jab.

Covid infection rates in Epping Forest are currently among some of the lowest in England, a stark contrast from four months ago when the district had the worst infection rate in the country.

In the seven days to April 2 there were only 16 new infections recorded in Epping Forest, an infection rate – expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people – of 12.1.

The week prior there 32 new cases recorded.

Across England, 25.9 million people had received their first jab by March 28, covering 57 per cent of the population aged 16 and over.

That includes 19.6 million people aged 50 and over – 93 per cent of the age group.

The figures show 2.9 million people have had a second jab.