One in 12 young people are hesitant about getting their Covid jab, with 16 to 29-year-olds more likely to be wary than older Brits, research has shown.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that young people in this age bracket were most reluctant to get vaccinated, with 8% reporting vaccine hesitancy compared with 5% in those aged 30 to 49-years-old, and 2% among the over 50s.
The research was conducted last month when over-18s were able to get vaccinated but the rollout had not yet been extended to 16 and 17-year-olds.
The Government has scrambled to try to boost uptake among young people over the summer, with discounts on takeaways and taxi rides offered to those who get jabbed.
In July, Boris Johnson dropped his opposition to Covid vaccine passports, which he said would be needed to go to nightclubs and busy indoor venues from the end of September.
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The move was widely interpreted as an attempt to put pressure on young people to get vaccinated.
ONS researchers interviewed a small group on young people in June, who had said they were unlikely to get vaccinated.
The main factors included distrust of the Government, concern about side effects and safety of the jab, and the belief that those at low risk from the virus don't need to get inoculated.
The report said: "Generally, vaccination in the future was considered by participants, but this was often far in the future because of a wish to know more about long-term side effects, and dependent on more information, research, and medical studies being available."
Younger people were more influenced by negative social media posts about jabs, while women were concerned about false reports about the impact of fertility.
Black participants indicated higher levels of general distrust.
It comes amid mounting pressure on the vaccine experts to speed up their decision-making on whether to recommend jabs for 12 to 15-year-olds.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said he hoped a decision would be taken shortly and said parents would be reassured to have the choice over whether to get their children jabbed.
Meanwhile, the Government was urged to "get on" with a coronavirus booster programme rather than waiting for advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Ex-Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the Today programme: "I understand why scientists are taking their time but I think in a pandemic politicians can also read the rooms and see the direction of travel."
The Prime Minister signalled that a rollout will begin this month, saying older people are the priority as autumn and winter approach.
The JCVI has not yet provided its recommendations on boosters or young teenagers.
