ALMOST half of residents in Southend and Basildon have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Promising figures show that 67,295 people in Southend had both their jabs by May 30, which was 46 per cent of those aged 16 and over.

In Basildon, it was 66,580 - 45 per cent of those aged over 16.

Of those to have received both jabs in Southend, 64,261 were aged 30 and over – 53 per cent of the age group.

It means 3,034 people aged between 16 to 29 have received both doses.

In Basildon, 63,421 were aged 30 and over – 54 per cent of the age group, meaning 3,159 people aged between 16 to 29 have received both doses.

However, Castle Point's figures were the strongest for south Essex - with 39,948 people receiving both doses, which is 53 per cent of the population.

Across England, almost half of people aged 16 and over have received their second vaccine dose.

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The NHS vaccine data also reveals variation in coverage for residents who had received at least one dose between different areas across south Essex.

Across Southend, 72 per cent of those aged 16 and over have had one jab, with the highest uptake being 81.1 per cent in Thorpe Bay.

In Basildon, the highest was Billericay Tye Common with 85.6 per cent, and in Castle Point it was Canvey Island Leigh Beck with 83.9 per cent.

Across England, 21.6 million people had received a second dose of the jab by May 30 – 48 per cent of that age group.

In total, 32.8 million people had received at least one dose of a vaccine by the same date, covering 72 per cent of people over 16.

The Government is in consultation over plans to make the jab mandatory for care home staff over concerns for residents.