A more targeted vaccination programme is to be rolled out in west Essex given that the area has lower vaccination rates.

Around 75 per cent of people have received their first dose in Harlow – with 57 per cent having received their second Covid-19 vaccination.

A total of 78 per cent have had their first dose in Epping – with 62 per cent having received both doses.

This compares to a first rate in Chelmsford of 84 per cent, 83 per cent in Brentwood and 85 per cent in Castle Point.

A meeting of Essex County Council’s (ECC) health board heard of the lower vaccination rates in Harlow and Epping Forest.

Speaking to ECC’s director of public health Doctor Mike Gogarty, cabinet member for health Councillor John Spence said: “You have told me over the last couple of weeks that your greatest area of anxiety about vaccinations are Harlow and Epping Forest given the low vaccination rates there and of older groups.”

But Doctor Rob Gerlis – clinical chair (Harlow GP Representative) – said: “Vaccine uptake in Harlow and the west Essex area is all down to supply as far as I’m aware. Everything that has come through has been given.

“There are pockets and we are doing everything we can.”

Ian Tompkins, director of corporate services at West Essex CCG, said a number of initiatives are being rolled out including bus clinics in Harlow and walk-in centres.

Dr Gogarty said that 95 per cent of the most at risk have been vaccinated.

He continued: “It is really important we push harder on this.”

He added: “At the moment the levels of vaccination are such and protection from vaccines is such that for every one per cent increase we can achieve in population coverage, we see a 10 per cent reduction in the need for hospital capacity.”