Here is how many Suffolk NHS staff remain unvaccinated against Covid-19

Over 700 NHS staff in Suffolk are still not vaccinated against Covid-19.

Across England, millions of people have been triple jabbed in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic – but tens of thousands of NHS staff are yet to have a first dose.

In Suffolk, 711 members of the workforce were yet to have at least one vaccination by the end of the December.

NHS England data shows 97% of the 5,416 health care workers at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust had received at least one vaccination by the end of last year, meaning 161 were unvaccinated at that point.

The figures for the trust show 5,181 workers had received two jabs – 96% of staff – and 4,569 had received a booster dose (84%).

Data for East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has revealed that 361 members of staff are yet to receive the vaccine.

10,420 workers at the trust had received two jabs – 95% of staff – and 8,999 had received a booster dose (82%).

At the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust,183 staff were unvaccinated at the same point.

The figures show 4,433 workers had received two jabs – 95% of staff – and 3,927 had received a booster dose (84%).

The Government's mandatory vaccination rules mean that NHS staff must receive a first jab by February 3 and be fully vaccinated by April 1 to continue working in frontline roles.

Despite widespread protests and calls to delay the policy, the Department for Health and Social Care says there are no plans to extend the deadline and that ensuring staff are vaccinated is the "right thing to do".

The NHS Confederation, which represents the whole healthcare system, said there were risks as well as benefits to a mandatory approach.

Chief executive Danny Mortimer said: "Most health leaders support the introduction of a mandate as it reflects the positive impact that vaccination will continue to have against coronavirus, but they would have preferred longer to implement the policy, particularly given the intensity of winter.

"While the majority of health and care workers have been vaccinated, even small reductions in staffing numbers can cause disruption.

"No leader wants to see this given the high standards of care they wish to maintain, the significant vacancies that exist across the NHS already, and the care backlogs that have built up during the pandemic."