TWO-THIRDS of people in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, figures reveal.

NHS data shows 216,566 people had received a vaccine jab by April 11 – 66% of those aged 16 and over, according to the latest population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

Of those vaccinated, 153,210 were aged 50 and over – 95% of the age group.

It means 63,356 people aged between 16 to 49 have received a first dose of the vaccine.

The data also reveals variation in coverage between different areas across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

The proportion of residents prioritised for vaccinations, such as those aged 50 and over, is one factor that could affect vaccine coverage.

Areas with the highest coverage:

1) West Highcliffe, with 80.7% of people aged 16 and over given their first dose

2) Mudeford, 80.7%

3) Highcliffe & Walkford, 80.6%

Areas with the lowest coverage:

1) Central Bournemouth, 39%

2) East Cliff, 41%

3) Winton, 47.4%.

Across England, 26.9 million people had received their first dose of a vaccine by April 11, covering 59% of the population aged 16 and over.

That includes 20 million people aged 50 and over – 95% of the age group.

The figures also show that 6.4 million people have had a second dose of the jab – 14% of people over 16.

A small number of people are not included due to their age being unknown.

Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of workers in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have not had a first dose.

A five-week consultation on mandatory jabs has been launched following concerns about whether enough carers have been vaccinated to stop the virus spreading to residents.

But the move has provoked criticism from trade union Unison which said mandatory vaccinations could "backfire" and lead to a staffing shortage.

In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, 3,709 out of 4,799 eligible staff, including agency workers, at older adult care homes had received a first dose by April 11, according to latest NHS figures – meaning 23% have not had a jab.

The unvaccinated proportion has reduced from four weeks previously, when it was 28%.

And the area is still not meeting recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) which state four in five staff need to be vaccinated to provide a minimum level of protection against outbreaks.

Across the South West, 17% of eligible care home workers had not been vaccinated by April 11, while across England that figure stood at 21%.