More than a quarter of new coronavirus cases in Dumfries and Galloway last week were among young people.
Health bosses say there were 217 new cases in the seven days up to July 18, up from 168 the week before.
And of those, 28 per cent were among people aged 18 to 29.
The majority of them are likely only to have received one dose of the vaccine, with NHS Dumfries and Galloway urging people to get their jab as soon as they are eligible.
Consultant in public health medicine, Dr Andrew Carnon, said: “For many months now we’ve been limiting our interactions to help stop the spread of Covid-19 – protecting the most vulnerable, protecting vital services and allowing vaccinations to take place.
“As restrictions continue to ease, and we’re mixing more, we become increasingly reliant on the vaccines having done their job of training our bodies to fight a virus which is present right across the region.
“Working to national directions, the vaccination programme prioritised the most vulnerable and oldest adults in our communities, before working down by age towards younger age groups.
“This means that our youngest adults have been provided the least protection so far, and this is where we’re seeing the highest number of new cases.
“We are working to provide second doses as close to the required eight week gap as possible, and this has proved to be very effective at preparing people for an encounter with the delta variant.
“Anyone not yet vaccinated is recommended to take up the opportunity now, as Covid is something we’re likely to be living alongside for some time to come.”
In a bid to encourage more people to get their vaccine, a pop-up clinic will be running in the car park of the Dumfries branch of Morrisons between 9.30am and 4pm today.
It will offer a first dose to anyone aged 18, or who will be 18 by the end of October, and a second dose to anyone who has waited more than eight weeks for their second jag.
Director of pharmacy, Graeme Bryson, said: “We’ve had a fantastic uptake of vaccinations in Dumfries and Galloway – some of the best numbers in the whole of Scotland.
“However, we know that it’s not necessarily been convenient for everyone to attend their scheduled first dose appointment and that many people may have wanted to wait to see how things developed.
“What’s become very clear, though, is that Covid is still a threat, and is still disrupting essential services and businesses. As national restrictions ease, what we increasingly come to rely on to protect ourselves and our way of lives will be the vaccines.
“If you haven’t yet been vaccinated, please give it very serious thought. A double vaccination helps protect loved ones, communities, and you. It helps support the moves towards having greater freedoms, and our ability to travel.
By the end of Monday, 114,658 people had received their first dose of the vaccine – 93.4 per cent of the region’s adult populations.
And 88,343 second doses had been given, 72 per cent of adults.
For further information on drop-in clinics, visit www.nhsdg.co.uk/vaccines
