The East of England has administered the lowest amount of Covid vaccinations out of any region in England, latest available figures have shown.

For the first time, NHS England has published a breakdown of vaccinations by age and region.

The data shows that of the 2,371,407 jabs given nationally between December 8 and January 10, including both first and second doses, 236,023 were in the east of England, which includes Hertfordshire and Essex.

This equates to around three in 10 people aged 80 and over in eastern England that have had their first jab, despite the region having some of the highest infection rates in the country.

The figures in the eastern region were just below London, which administered 237,524 vaccinations.

Watford Observer: Robertson House vaccination centre in Stevenage. Credit: PARobertson House vaccination centre in Stevenage. Credit: PA

However, the figures for the east are likely to rise considerably thanks to the new mass vaccination centre which opened in Stevenage on Monday (January 11).

The centre at Robertson House, which the NHS says is capable of delivering thousands of vaccines to people a week, has already proved hugely popular.

Sarah Browne, director of nursing and quality at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, said there had been an "amazing" response from people offered a coronavirus vaccine.

She said on Monday: "We’ve been absolutely amazed, the booking system went live on Saturday morning and by 11am our slots were virtually fully booked.

"So it’s amazing how many people got that letter on Saturday and have already booked in.

"We know all our slots are booked for today and tomorrow, and we’re monitoring it on a day-by-day basis as to how many slots we’ve got available as to who else we then otherwise need to invite in."

Before Robertson House opened, vaccinations were only available at GP hubs and hospitals.

Watford Observer: Robert Williams, 84, receives an injection of a Covid-19 vaccine at the NHS vaccine centre that has been set up at Robertson House. Credit: PARobert Williams, 84, receives an injection of a Covid-19 vaccine at the NHS vaccine centre that has been set up at Robertson House. Credit: PA

The NHS England figures on vaccinations released today show the most jabs administered up until January 10 were in the Midlands, and North East and Yorkshire.

A total of 447,329 and 433,045 vaccines were delivered respectively in these two areas.

There were 411,257 vaccinations in the South East, 318,445 in the North West, and 285,332 in the South West.

Only the South West of England has a smaller population than the East of England region, with the east home to around six million people.

In total in England, 1,036,605 aged 80 or over have received a first dose, while 960,699 were given to those under 80.