The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for the weekly coronavirus vaccination figures to be broken down by region and local authority in the future.

Figures published by the Government yesterday showed that more than 137,000 people in the UK have received the first dose of the COVID vaccine.

The majority of the vaccines have been administered to the over-80s, care home workers and NHS staff through more than 70 sites.

Health and social care secretary, Matt Hancock, said: ‘This is just the start and we will steadily expand our vaccination programme – ultimately helping everyone get back to normal life.’

The LGA welcomed the 'encouraging' figures and said councils are ready to work with the NHS to help with the vaccine rollout.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: 'Local knowledge and expertise will be crucial in encouraging everyone from all parts of the community to get vaccinated. Councils’ unique relationship with the people they represent mean they are well placed to reach out to those in the priority groups and beyond.

'We will eventually need to see the weekly vaccine rollout figures broken down by region and local authority, to ensure the fairest possible distribution and help to target support at communities and in neighbourhoods where take up is slower, in partnership with the NHS and others.'

A new poll has found that just 57% of respondents from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds were likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine, compared to 79% of white respondents.