2 in 3 at A&E with Indian strain have not had a vaccine

THE INDIAN variant appears to be predominantly affecting people who are not yet fully vaccinated, figures show.

Of those who have attended A&e with the strain, more than two in three were completely unvaccinated.

And just 7 per cent were more than two weeks on from receiving their second dose – the point at which people are considered fully protected.

Meanwhile, only 42 people with the variant, also known as the Delta strain, have required an overnight stay in hospital two weeks or more after receiving their second jab. And of those who have died in england with the Indian variant, more than half were completely unvaccinated.

Public Health england said yesterday that more than 90 per cent of new Covid-19 cases are now the Indian variant, with research suggesting it is associated with an approximately 60 per cent increased risk of household transmission compared with the Kent strain.

Cases are estimated to be doubling every four and a half days in parts of

‘Significantly more protection’

england, with 42,323 cases confirmed in the UK, up by 29,892 from last week. Growth rates for the variant are high across all parts of the country, PHe added.

It said that as of June 7, there have been 42 deaths in england of people who were confirmed as having the Indian variant. Of these, 23 were unvaccinated, seven were more than 21 days after their first dose of vaccine – but just 12 were more than 14 days after their second dose.

And two thirds of the 1,234 people who attended A&e in england between February 1 and June 7 with the Indian variant were unvaccinated. Figures yesterday showed that 8,125 people had tested positive for coronavirus, with the weekly average being 58 per cent higher than last week. A total of 173 patients were admitted to hospital and there were also 17 new deaths recorded. Both numbers are up compared with the average for the previous week. Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: ‘If you are eligible, we urge you to come forward and be vaccinated. Remember that two doses provide significantly more protection than a single dose.’ The Department of Health said 41million adults had received at least one jab.