A small cohort of 6pc of adults say they will not take a Covid-19 vaccine, with resistance highest at 12pc in 24- to 34-year-olds, a new poll reveals today.

In January, 7pc of adults said they would refuse a vaccine and although it fell slightly amid huge take-up, it has remained at 6pc over the summer months, the tracker poll from the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) shows.

Meanwhile, a further 4pc of adults are still “unsure” about receiving a Covid-19 vaccine and this hesitancy is at its highest among 18- to 24-year- olds, at 15pc.

However, demand for vaccinations overall is very high, with nine in 10 people over 18 years old either already jabbed or intending to get vaccinated.

The ongoing vaccine hesitancy among younger groups comes as they are being worst hit by the Delta variant.

There have been rapid increases in infection in the 16-18, 19-24 and 25- to 34-year-old age categories.

Bernard Mallee, director of communications and advocacy at IPHA, urged younger age groups to accept a vaccine to slow down the spread of the virus and boost the levels of protection from the virus.

“The rising prevalence of the highly transmissible Delta variant means more of the population needs to be protected to move us closer to overall community protection.

“Our data shows very significant public appetite to get vaccinated against Covid-19,” he said.

“People aged between 18 and 34 are slightly more hesitant about getting vaccinated for the disease.

“We urge them to get vaccinated because that way we can maximise protection in the population. At the same time, the industry urges continued adherence to public health advice.

“Vaccines makers are continuing to surge global production of Covid-19 vaccines, investing in their own sites and forming hundreds of partnerships and collaborations with other suitable manufacturing sites.

“At the same time, our industry is working hard to generate responses for variants of concern as the fight against Covid-19 continues.”

The Ipsos MRBI poll showed that 76pc of people aged between 18 and 34 said they would take a vaccine.

That figure excludes those who have already been vaccinated for Covid-19.

It compares with a figure of 78pc last month. In April and May it was 77pc.

Among all adults over 18, some 89pc either intend to get vaccinated for Covid-19 or have already received a jab and this has remained constant.

The poll said: “The results show that 19pc of people generally will take a Covid-19 vaccine.

“But when combined with the cohort that has received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose, or 70pc of the sample, that number rises to 89pc.

“Just 6pc overall say they will refuse a Covid-19 vaccine and 4pc are unsure.”

Around 80pc of adults have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

“Ireland is among the fastest countries in Europe to vaccinate its population. People aged between 18 and 24 are the latest group that can register online to get a Covid-19 vaccine.

“People aged between 18 and 34, or those over 50, can get vaccinated for Covid-19 in most pharmacies,” said the IPHA.

It pointed out that vaccination was a global health and development success story, saving millions of lives every year.

“We have vaccines to prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives.

“Vaccines administered in Ireland already help to prevent 13 diseases, including measles, meningitis and whooping cough.

“The World Health Organisation estimates that vaccines save up to three million lives every year.

“With the exception of clean, safe drinking water, vaccination is one of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions ever,” it said.

“Vaccines have ridden the world of smallpox, driven polio to the brink of eradication, and virtually eliminated measles, diphtheria and rubella in many parts of the world.”