YOUNG patients are failing to turn up for their Covid vaccine appointments after safety fears were raised over the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.

Last week, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation announced that 18 to 29 year olds should be offered an alternative to the jab after possible links to rare blood clots.

Health bosses maintain the risks are low and urge people to keep their appointments.

Joanne Copeland, practice manager at Rose Villa Surgery in Pitsea, says they have seen youngsters raise concerns about the impact of the Oxford jab, and some still aren’t arriving for their vaccine.

She said: “As you’re going down the list in terms of age, we’re finding a lot more of them aren’t turning up for their vaccine, which is frustrating. The elderly are so grateful, some even crying over the phone where they’re so happy, whereas the younger generation are saying ‘How will I get there?’ But even the 80 and 90 year olds are managing it.

“We are also finding some of the younger people have their backs up slightly about the Oxford jab specifically.”

But Trevor Harp, councillor for health and adult social care in Southend, has assured the risks associated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab remain low and is urging patients to attend their vaccine appointments.

He said: “I have had reports of people not turning up for their appointments, which I would urge everyone to do.

“The joint committee has also put in place various precautions with concerns raised over the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, in regards to giving it as a vaccine of first resort to the under-30s.

“The risks associated with this, for example blood clots, are very low - far lower than the contraceptive pill.”

The concerns follow the death of solicitor Neil Astles, 59, from Cheshire, who died from a blood clot after getting the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on March 17.

Meanwhile, a number of Basildon residents were given appointments at the George Hurd Centre and the Nevendon Centre for their second vaccine, only for them to be cancelled.

Fears were raised on social media this was due to a “shortage of vaccine supplies”.

However, the NHS in south Essex instead stressed there was a delay to the supply of the Covid-19 vaccine.