MORE than half of 16 to 17-year-olds in Dorset have received a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, figures reveal.

It comes as pupils across England return to school after the summer holidays, amid a warning over a potential rise in cases.

While a new mass-testing policy has been introduced to tackle outbreaks in schools, the Government is also calling on those eligible to get a Covid jab.

Public Health England data shows 4,948 people aged 16 and 17 in Dorset had received a jab by September 4 – 57 per cent of the age group, based on the number of people on the National Immunisation Management Service database.

In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 4,235 of those aged between 16 and 17 have had their first jab - 51 per cent of the age group.

That was higher than the 49 per cent average across England.

Dr Andy Rutland is a GP and clinical lead for the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Dorset.

He said “The vaccination programme in Dorset has delivered over a million life-saving jabs to people across all age groups since the end of last year and I would like to thank everyone who has helped this happen.

“Local partners have been running a campaign to promote the joint approach of testing and vaccinations to younger people and we are delighted that so many have taken up the offer of a jab, and I would like to encourage anyone who hasn’t yet done so to get theirs as soon as they are able.”

Those aged 16 and 17 became eligible for a vaccine last month and pop-up vaccination centres were set up at events such as music festivals to encourage uptake.

But Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK needed to speed up vaccinating youngsters in the age group, who are “a very important group for potential transmission”.

“There are still some who need that protection and I would just urge everybody who hasn’t yet had a jab to go and get one,” he added.

Discussions on whether to allow 12 to 15-year-olds who do not have underlying health conditions to be vaccinated are also ongoing.

The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation said the benefit is considered too small to support a rollout – but Professor Chris Whitty and the three other chief medical officers in the UK are now reviewing the wider benefits of vaccinating the age group.