ALMOST 150,000 coronavirus vaccinations have now been distributed in north Essex, new figures show.

The latest Public Health England figures show a total of 149,153 vaccines have been given out in the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group area.

Of these 141,352 were first doses and 7,801 second doses of the vaccine.

Figures also show 99 per cent of the estimated population of residents over the age of 80 have now had a dose of a vaccine.

All residents aged between 75 and 79 are believed to have had their jab as well as 95.3 per cent of those between 70 and 74.

About 91 per cent of those between 65 and 69 have had a vaccine, 83 per cent of those between 60 and 64 and 54.1 per cent of those between 55 and 59.

In Colchester 66,972 jabs have been distributed, with residents of Parson’s Heath, 5,701, and Mile End and Braiswick, 4,684, having had the most.

This table shows the number of jabs given out in each part of Colchester:

A total of 74,380 have been given out in Tendring.

Across the UK, approximately 45 per cent of the population above the age of 16 are thought to have now had a jab.

Provisional figures showed that by the end of Wednesday, more than 25 million vaccinations had been administered.

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However, a leaked NHS letter from Wednesday revealed health chiefs were bracing themselves for a significant drop in doses next month with first doses of the jab expected to be “constrained” for four weeks due to a problem with supplies coming from India.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock also confirmed yesterday a batch of 1.7 million Covid-19 vaccine doses had been delayed so testing could be carried out.

He told the House of Commons: “In April, supply is tighter than this month and we have a huge number of second doses to deliver.

“During April, around 12 million people, including many colleagues in this House will receive their second dose.

“These second doses cannot be delayed as they have to be delivered within 12 weeks of the first dose.

“In the last week, we’ve had a batch of 1.7 million doses delayed because of the need to retest its stability.

“Events like this are to be expected in a manufacturing endeavour of this complexity and this shows the rigour of our safety checks.”

The Government has also been locked in a row with the EU after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned the trading block could block exports of vaccines.

Mr Hancock told Parliament yesterday there would be “very serious consequences” if the EU broke contract law.