December 20, 2021 5.50 pm This story is over 27 months old

Young people “letting down” Lincolnshire’s least vaccinated area

Youngsters blamed for spike in cases
Gary Loadman says younger people are dragging down the East Marsh's Covid vaccination rate. | Photo: Jamie Waller

Young people are being blamed for letting the “community down” in Grimsby’s least vaccinated area.

Only two thirds of people over 12 have had a COVID jab in the East Marsh, the lowest rate in North East Lincolnshire.

Older residents say that it’s the younger generation who are shunning vaccinations because they feel ‘immune’.

Less than 60 percent of people in the ward have had both jabs.

One East Marsh resident blames misinformation for putting the younger people of the area off vaccines.

Gary Loadman said: “Older people are getting their jabs and boosters, but younger ones don’t seem bothered.

“When I’ve been to get my vaccine, it has always been people around my own age. It’s the same with masks – the younger generation doesn’t bother as much.

“Part of the problem is how much they read and believe on the Internet. They don’t trust vaccines.

“Everyone else takes it seriously. I booked my jabs as soon as my date come up, and I think all of my friends and family did the same.”

Everyone eligible is being urged to get a booster jab as the country faces a wave of Omicron Covid cases.

Mr Bannister said: “It’s the younger ones who are letting us down. They think they’re immune to the virus.

“It doesn’t work like that though! They may be healthy and fit but they can still catch it and spread it.

“A lot of the transmission stems from them, just because they think they know better.

“Many of them are out in pubs and clubs all the time when they’re unvaccinated.

“Unfortunately, everybody suffers from their lack of respect.”

A woman who works on Freeman Street said: “I was required to have my jabs and booster because of work, and I’m glad I’ve had them – I feel safer now.

“Getting my 16 year old to have his second jab is a lot more difficult though.”

North East Lincolnshire Council data shows that currently the younger an age group is, the less likely they are to have had any protection against COVID-19.

Just 59 percent of 16 to 17 year olds in the borough have had at least one jab, compared to 97 percent of over 80s, although some of the young groups aren’t yet eligible for second or booster jabs.