Hertfordshire's director of public health has admitted there is still work to be done to convince 'anti-vaxxers' to take the jab.

Herts health supremo Jim McManus acknowledged there would need to be work to address public fears and concerns relating to vaccination.

With the government set to roll out the vaccine over the coming days and weeks, there are voices advocating people should not take the jab.

"We do need seriously to address the fears people have because of misinformation about vaccination," Mr McManus said.

"I will be in the queue for vaccination as soon as I am allowed to join it.

"But we recognise there are many people who have got concerns and fears. We have to take those honestly if we are to get the vaccine to do its job.

"We need everybody who is eligible to take it up.

"So we are going to have to work together, as part of our 'journey to exit', on the vaccine hesitancy."

advertisement

Although cases in Hertfordshire have decreased, Mr McManus said they continued to be high in some areas, could spread easily and 'take-off' if not careful.

He pointed to a 'significant' reduction amongst 18-22 year-olds, but a continuing increase amongst those aged 0-17.

And he particularly welcomed the declining rates amongst over-60s, who are at greater risk of needing hospital treatment.

Mr McManus said: "Hospitals have been extremely busy with Covid – extremely busy with Covid.

"To say this second peak hasn't had an impact would be wholly untrue."

Cataloguing the ongoing work to suppress the virus, he highlighted a wraparound self isolation service, contact tracing and enforcement, as well as new Covid marshals.

And he pointed to ongoing work to ensure transport, education and retail were as safe as possible.

He said he wanted the county to be safe – for people to feel they could shop safely and to protect retail staff, who he acknowledged as 'front line key workers, and not always well paid.'

advertisement

And he referred to a new 'kitemark scheme' that is being developed, so people can have confidence that hospitality and retail in Hertfordshire is safe.

Mr McManus also pointed to the use of lateral flow tests to enable university students to return to their family homes and for the transfer of vulnerable children between care settings.

And he highlighted their limited use as part of a national programme to allow family visiting in care homes.

But he said the county was taking a 'precautionary approach' doing as much as it can to enable visiting in line with national programme – but doing it safely.

The county council's executive member for public health and prevention Tim Hutchings was also keen to stress the need for ongoing commitment to measures to suppress the virus.

"This is not over yet," he said. "There is a lot of news obviously around vaccines at the moment, but I do want to emphasize its not over . It won't be over for probably several months yet.

"And given our numbers – yes there is some decrease -but its not so rapid that we need to start celebrating yet. They are much higher than I would like to see."