Research has revealed more than a quarter of adults have still not had jabs in metropolitan areas such as London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. In the 12 largest cities, an average of 73 percent of over-18s have had a first Covid jab, 68 per cent a second and 48 percent a booster.
This compared with rates of 86, 83 and 68 percent, respectively, in the rest of the country, according to NHS data.
The analysis was carried out by Prof John Clancy, a statistician at Birmingham City University.
He told the Daily Express: “There are 13 million people living in our 12 biggest cities.
“But our cities and our small towns, coastal areas and rural counties, seem to be very different nations in one country.”
First dose uptake was lowest in Manchester, at 70 percent, with London, Birmingham and Nottingham all on 71 percent.
It was highest in Sheffield (81 percent), Bristol (80 percent) and Leeds (79 percent), although these were all still below the average for residents outside cities.
Prof Clancy said: “It is counterintuitive. In the rural and coastal areas, they have had to put more effort into getting vaccinated.
“Those who require the least effort ‑ like popping down the road to their GP surgery ‑ are the people who are least taking it up.”
One possible reason for this is age, as cities tend to be home to younger people more likely to think they are at low risk of Covid.
But Prof Clancy said city populations may also have different attitudes, values and beliefs, a trend noted after the Brexit vote.
Plan B rules on face coverings, except in healthcare settings, and Covid passes come to an end as from today.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “We have some of the strongest defences in Europe.”
Meanwhile, more than 5,000 people with Covid have already joined a study of antiviral treatments to be taken at home.
But deputy chief medical officer Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam still urged over-50s and people with underlying health conditions to come forward if they test positive, saying: “Closer to 20,000 volunteers may be needed.”
A further 102,292 Covid cases and 346 deaths were confirmed yesterday.
