HIGH numbers of people in parts of inner-city Bradford are yet to be double jabbed, figures reveal.

It comes as school pupils are due to return to the classroom, prompting fears over a surge in cases as has been seen elsewhere.

Schools in Scotland returned a fortnight ago and the reopening is believed to have contributed to a rise in cases in the country, where the infection level is at its highest since estimates began last autumn.

The area with the lowest vaccination rate is Shearbridge and University where, according to Government figures, 41.2 per cent of all people aged 16 and over have received their first dose of the vaccine and just 31.7 per cent have received both by September 2.

However, Councillor Nazam Azam (Lab, City) said that figure is misleading due to the student make-up of the area.

Similarly low figures can be seen in inner-city Leeds, where in the University and Little Woodhouse area, just 27.4 per cent of people had been fully vaccinated by September 2.

He said: “Of course on the face of it, 31 per cent is appalling, but it does not reflect the true nature of what is happening. Generally speaking, I can assure you, people in City ward are taking up the vaccine as and when they’ve been offered it. I’ve taken up the vaccine at the first opportunity, so have members of my family and so have members of my community.”

While he said he did not believe the 31 per cent figure to be accurate, he added:  “However, we do need to continue to encourage people to take up the vaccine. 

“It’s crucial that people are taking up the vaccines, for obvious reasons - it’s saving lives, it’s saving people from being hospitalised.”

But he continued to urge caution over the figures over concern that they “pit one place against another”. 

Elsewhere, in the Holme Top area, 40.9 per cent of people have been double jabbed; 41.4 per cent in Central Bradford & Barkerend West; 42.1 per cent in Brown Royd; 45 per cent in Manningham & Lister Park; 45.3 per cent in Girlington; 47.4 per cent in Barkerend East; 48.8 per cent in Toller Lane & Infirmary; 49 per cent in  Broomfields and East Bowling and 49.5 per cent in Canterbury.

Some parts of the district are hitting over 80 per cent of people double jabbed, though this could be explained by the age demographics of an area. 

Professor Neil Ferguson, whose modelling was instrumental to the UK going into lockdown in March 2020, said there are concerns about the effect schools reopening could have on virus spread, especially with the more transmissible and now-dominant Delta variant.

He said: “We expect to see quite a significant surge in cases, to some extent in hospitalisations, but whether that’s going to require any rolling back of the relaxation of restrictions is too early to say. It really depends on the level of healthcare demand.”

He said if an unvaccinated population of 5 or 10 per cent all got Covid in a short period of time it would result in a “large healthcare burden, and a large number of deaths” and that it could also “have a risk of significantly overwhelming health systems even in high income countries such as the UK”.

Speaking about areas with lower vaccination rates, Ian Murch, president of the National Education Union’s Bradford branch, said: “I think you can be sure it will mean that in these areas, we get more transmission through schools to vulnerable people who have not been vaccinated.

"Each time schools have gone back during this pandemic, there has been an increase in transmission.

"Everyone will know this is going to happen. It’s worrying. It’s obviously hugely important that people do get vaccinated.”

Nancy O’Neill, NHS co-lead for the vaccination programme across Bradford district and Craven, said: “We are working closely with communities across Bradford district and Craven to encourage more people to come forward for their vaccinations. This has included providing a range of pop-up clinics in local community venues, such as Bradford Central mosque and Settle Methodist Church.

"Walk-in services have been particularly popular with younger age groups and we are continuing to offer these at many of our vaccination centres. We have also been running Q&A sessions with local employers and Bradford Council’s community champions have been working tirelessly to ensure communities have accurate information about the vaccines and the chance to discuss any concerns they might have.”