OK, so here’s a question: why are case rates so persistently high in older age groups in the North of England? For simplicity here I’m just looking at the 50+, and using three super-regions: North inc Yorkshire, Midlands & East, and London & South. 1/4 
You might think it’s just reflecting case rates in the whole population. But it’s not: look here at the same graph for the under-50s, it has quite a different pattern, with the North very similar to the Midlands through August (and to the South until the last few weeks). 2/4
One possible explanation is that it reflects lower immunity in the older Northern groups – but the vax rates have been good, and if we look at a longer time horizon, there’s not an obvious difference in attack rates (the January peak is lower, but the autumn one was higher). 3/4
So I’m a bit stumped. Is there a behavioural difference? Or something structural with that population, which is different in the North to elsewhere in England? The effect seems most pronounced in the North East, if that’s any help. Twitter hive mind, you can do this… 4/end
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