FOI REF: FOI-2023-1342
You asked
Can you give the following data on COVID-19 vaccinations: Number of people in England vaccinated with one dose of COVID-19 by 30 June 2022? Number of people vaccinated with one dose by 1 December 2022? Number of people vaccinated with two doses by 30 June 2022? Number of people vaccinated with two doses by 1 December 2022? Number of people vaccinated with three doses (or more) by 30 June 2022? Number of people vaccinated with three doses (or more) by 1 December 2021? According to the new census 2021 - the population of England on 30 June 2022? And the population of England on 1 December 2022?
We said
Thank you for your request.
Vaccinations
Unfortunately, we do not hold analysis of all people who have received a COVID-19 vaccination. Details on COVID-19 vaccinations have been published by NHS England. For further information please contact england.vaccinestatistics@nhs.net.
However, we have published the following report, which may be of interest: Coronavirus and vaccination rates in adults by socio-demographic characteristic and occupation, England: December 2020 to March 2023. This data contains information on COVID vaccination rates among adults who live in England, including estimates by socio-demographic characteristic and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2020.
If you would like to discuss this query further, please contact health.data@ons.gov.uk.
Population
We produce annual mid-year population estimates for 30 June each year. The mid-2022 population estimates for England and Wales are due to be published on 28 September 2023 and, as such, are exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future.
As a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration, and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.
We unfortunately do not hold population estimates for the 1 December 2022.