The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has said that those who refuse to take the Covid vaccine are opposing the Christian principle of ‘love thy neighbour’. Welby cited the alleged benefits of immunisation, such as reducing “my chances of infecting others”, and declared that “now obviously there are some people who, for health reasons, can’t be vaccinated – different question – but it’s not about me and my rights to choose”. MailOnline has more.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said being vaccinated against Covid is a moral issue.
The Most Reverend Justin Welby said that getting the jab reduces the chances of illness being spread and that “it’s not about me and my rights to choose – it’s about how I love my neighbour”.
His comments come as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that people could go ahead with their Christmas plans but there is “continuing uncertainty” about the severity of the fast-spreading Omicron variant and hospital admission rates.
Asked during an interview with ITV News At Ten if being vaccinated is a “moral issue”, the Archbishop said: “I’m going to step out on thin ice here and say, yes, I think it is.”
He added: “A lot of people won’t like that, but I think it is because it’s not about me and my rights.
“Now obviously there are some people who, for health reasons, can’t be vaccinated – different question – but it’s not about me and my rights to choose.
“It’s about how I love my neighbour. Vaccination reduces my chances – doesn’t eliminate – but it reduces my chances of getting ill and reducing my chances of getting ill reduces my chances of infecting others. It’s very simple.
“So I would say yes, to love one another – as Jesus said – get vaccinated, get boosted.”
On whether it would be immoral not to get the jab when you are in a position to have it, Welby said: “I understand why people don’t.”
He added: “But I would say, go and get boosted, get vaccinated. It’s how we love our neighbour. Loving our neighbour is what Jesus told us to do. It’s Christmas: do what he said.”
Figures from NHS England show that 1,904 people were in hospital in London with Covid as of December 21st, the highest number since March 2nd and up 41% from a week earlier.
Across England, 6,902 patients were in hospital with Covid on December 21st – the highest number since November 10th and up 7% week-on-week.
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