Covid burden now heaviest on England's youngest

For the largest share of the Covid-19 pandemic so far, it was the oldest generations which were most at risk and hardest hit by the virus. As vaccination programmes got started at the end of 2020 though, initially and justifiably focusing on offering protection to the older people in society first, the burden has gradually been shifted to the younger members of the population - accelerated by the reopening of schools and daycare.

Although progress is being made in developing and testing vaccines for people aged as young as 12, the world still doesn't have a suitable jab for the youngest among us and this is reflected in the latest Office for Nationa Statistics release on infection rates in England. As this infographic shows, when looking at the share of new Covid infections as a share of each age cohort, children in the school years 7 to 11 as of the end of May 2021 had the highest rate of infection at 0.5 percent. Those from Year 12 to the age of 24 were the second-most affected age group with 0.3 percent. The youngest age group included - age 2 to year 6 - currently have a rate of 0.2 percent - equal to that of 35 to 49 year olds, but higher than all remaining groups.