the first three million adults in England remain unvaccinated against Covidaccording to the latest figures.
Another 2.7 million people have had just one dose, increasing the risk of serious illness from the virus.
The figures were prepared as part of a report by the Public Accounts Committee, which has urged the NHS to redouble efforts to reach the unvaccinated as the number of Covid cases rises.
Dame Meg Hillier, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said: “The Ministry and NHS England should build on the early successes of the vaccine program and redouble efforts to reach people who have not been vaccinated and are at greater risk of being hospitalized. be hospitalized or die as a result. from Covid-19.
“Despite the work to date, low vaccination rates persist in many vulnerable groups and new approaches are needed.”
The report says it is “not yet clear” how NHS England will “strike the right balance” between increasing vaccination coverage and the limited services available to do so.
Pregnant women belong to the groups with the lowest vaccination coverage. Only 58 percent had received two doses as of February 2022.
The report also notes that Black, Black British and Pakistani descent were also less than half as likely to have had their boosters compared to those of white British descent, despite being more vulnerable.
The figures come as the number of Covid infections rises across the country, with an estimated 2.7 million people in private households contracting the virus last week.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS), which published the data, said the increase was caused by the spread of variants BA.4 and BA.5.
A government spokesperson said: “We are working hard to reach those people who have not yet been vaccinated against Covid, including using walk-in and mobile vaccination clinics to increase access and convenience, and providing customized messages from trusted voices – such as faith and community leaders. – to various people to get the vaccine.
“NHS England has already started preparations to ensure they are ready to deploy Covid vaccines to those eligible as part of a Covid booster program in the fall to ensure protection before winter. is maintained.”