As the Omicron variant spreads rapidly across the UK, the Archbishop of Canterbury is encouraging people to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.

During an interview with ITV News, Most Rev Justin Welby said to “love one another” means to get jabbed.

“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.”

When asked whether or not getting vaccinated was ‘immoral’, Archbishop Justin said: “'I understand why people don't. 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.”

Archbishop Justin was also asked about the leaked picture of government staff having cheese and wine during the first lockdown last year. He said he felt “a whole load of emotions”.

“I thought about the many people who will look at that and remember what they were doing on that day and the sorrow and sadness they felt on that day because of not being able to see someone or bereavement or the last time they saw someone they loved.”

The daily number of new coronavirus cases in the UK passed 100-thousand cases for the first time on Wednesday. At least 70 per cent of the UK population has been vaccinated.