Covid vaccination rates in parts of King's Lynn, Great Yarmouth and Ipswich are among Norfolk and Suffolk's worst, and continue to fall far below the national average.

A number of neighbourhoods in the three towns consistently rank poorly when it comes to the percentage of each age group to receive their first jab.

Norwich Evening News: Far more second doses of the Covid vaccine have been administered across Norfolk and Waveney during the latest seven-day periodFar more second doses of the Covid vaccine have been administered across Norfolk and Waveney during the latest seven-day period (Image: Ian Burt Photography)

Across 200 parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, latest figures show Yarmouth Parade is at the very bottom of the pile for five different age groups.

The area has seen 87.3pc of its 75 to 79-year-olds get initial doses, compared to 99.5pc in the best performing area of Rickinghall, Walsham le Willows and Gislingham in Mid Suffolk.

It is way off the pace for younger groups, with only 63.9pc of its 50 to 54-year-old population going to vaccination appointments thus far.

That compares to a table-topping 94.9pc in the Broadland area of Coltishall, Buxton and Frettenham, and 94.3pc in Harleston and Pulham.

The Ipswich neighbourhoods of Westgate, Gipping and Chantry Park, Ipswich Central, and Maidenhall, Stoke and Port feature heavily at the wrong end of the list for each age group.

In King's Lynn, the neighbourhoods of North Lynn and Town, South Lynn and West Lynn continue to struggle.

Norwich Evening News: A quarter of under-55s in Norfolk and Waveney have had a first dose of the coronavirus vaccineA quarter of under-55s in Norfolk and Waveney have had a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine (Image: Archant 2021)

The worrying statistics have emerged amid increasing concern over the spread of the Indian strain of the virus.

But Tracy Williams, an advance nurse practitioner who works with Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (NWCCG) on tackling inequalities, said health teams were working round the clock to get everyone on a level playing field.

"Overall we are doing really well, but we do know there are gaps in areas which might suffer from increased deprivation," added Mrs Williams.

Norwich Evening News: Tracy Williams, who works with Norfolk and Waveney CCG on tackling inequalitiesTracy Williams, who works with Norfolk and Waveney CCG on tackling inequalities (Image: Norfolk and Waveney CCG)

"It might be a struggle for people to get to appointments, there might be social economic reasons, or perhaps there is some hesitancy.

"We don't want places to feel like they are being left behind, so what we will do in those cases is ask 'what vaccination opportunities can we offer and how can we support people?'"

In Ipswich, a particular cause for concern is take-up in Westgate, where just 82.6pc of over-80s have accepted a vaccine. The national average is 93.8pc.

Norwich Evening News: The Ipswich neighbourhood of Westgate has one of the worst Covid vaccination rates in Norfolk and SuffolkThe Ipswich neighbourhood of Westgate has one of the worst Covid vaccination rates in Norfolk and Suffolk (Image: Archant)

Moreover, only 65.2pc of 50 to 54-year-olds in the neighbourhood have so far been for a jab, compared to nationwide rate of 83.5pc.

After dedicating much of its focus in recent weeks to Great Yarmouth, with walk-in clinics and its vaccination bus, NWCCG will turn its attention to King's Lynn in the coming days.

"Having the bus at Marine Parade in Yarmouth went really well, and we learned a lot from the flexible appointments," said Mrs Williams.

Hancock-Urges-People-To-Get-The-Jab-As-Indian-Variant-Surges (1)

"We have even done some knocking on doors which we are going to replicate, but it's about doing it in a positive way with community champions who can answer questions about hesitancy.

"One thing we are doing at the moment is going out to factory sites. Norfolk has a large migrant workforce who do long shifts and cannot always access vaccination centres.

"We often find with migrant workers that, if some are hesitant, others are the same. But on the other hand it works the same way - one goes for a vaccine and others will follow."

Norwich Evening News: The queue for Primark stretches back up the High Street in King's Lynn on the day lockdown liftedThe queue for Primark stretches back up the High Street in King's Lynn on the day lockdown lifted (Image: Chris Bishop)

The neighbourhoods with best and worst vaccination rates in Norfolk and Suffolk for each age group are as follows:

Over-80s

  • Best: Hethersett, South Norfolk - 99.6pc
  • Worst: Westgate, Ipswich - 82.6pc

75 to 79-year-olds

  • Best: Rickinghall, Walsham le Willows and Gislingham, Mid Suffolk - 99.5pc
  • Worst: Yarmouth Parade, Great Yarmouth - 87.3pc

Norwich Evening News: A Covid jab is administered at Connaught Hall, AttleboroughA Covid jab is administered at Connaught Hall, Attleborough (Image: Archant 2021)

70 to 74-year-olds

  • Best: Fleggburgh, Rollesby and Martham, Great Yarmouth - 99pc
  • Worst: Yarmouth Parade - 81.5pc

65 to 69-year-olds

  • Best: Bradwell North, Great Yarmouth - 98.2pc
  • Worst: Yarmouth Parade, Great Yarmouth - 79pc

60 to 64-year-olds

  • Best: Claydon and Bramford, Mid Suffolk - 97.2pc
  • Worst: Westgate, Ipswich - 74.7pc

Norwich Evening News: A patient about to receive their Covid vaccine at King's Lynn Corn ExchangeA patient about to receive their Covid vaccine at King's Lynn Corn Exchange (Image: Ian Burt Photography)

55 to 59-year-olds

  • Best: North Sudbury and Long Melford, Babergh - 97.4pc
  • Worst: Yarmouth Parade, Great Yarmouth - 66.8pc

50 to 54-year-olds

  • Best: Coltishall, Buxton and Frettenham, Broadland - 94.9pc
  • Worst: Yarmouth Parade, Great Yarmouth - 63.9pc


Prime minister's plea to answer jab call

Norwich Evening News: Prime minister Boris Johnson set out measures that are part of the four key steps that will bring the UK out of lockdown.Prime minister Boris Johnson set out measures that are part of the four key steps that will bring the UK out of lockdown. (Image: PA)


Boris Johnson has once again urged anyone who not been for a vaccine already to answer the call.

The prime minister said uptake continued to be "very encouraging", as 37-year-olds began being invited to appointment on Tuesday.

Asked whether people refusing to get vaccinated should share the blame for potential deviation from the government's roadmap, Mr Johnson called the response so far "quite extraordinary".

"There was a poll I think done last night which showed that, of all the countries in the world, we are the most positive about vaccinations," he added. "The numbers are incredibly high.

"I know that some people have been more vaccine-hesitant than others but, actually, across the whole of society, the numbers continue to go up in every age group and that's very, very encouraging.

"To make the obvious point, I urge everybody who is eligible for a vaccine, when you get your call-up, come and get your jab."