U.S. and U.K. Politicians Turn Up Heat on Unvaccinated as Omicron Cases Surge

Politicians on both sides of the Atlantic are warning of a difficult few months due to the inactions of the unvaccinated and the spread of Omicron.

Although E.U. leaders are openly discussing mandatory vaccinations, U.S. and U.K. leaders are instead stressing the damage to society and health systems of those who have so far failed to take up the offer of vaccinations.

On Thursday, December 16, during a press conference U.S. President Joe Biden said the Omicron variant was in the country and spreading fast. He added that those who are unvaccinated would overwhelm hospitals as they and their family members die from COVID-19.

In the U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has warned that the unvaccinated could cause "huge damage" to the rest of the UK.

During his speech Biden said: "But I want to send a direct message to the American people.

"Due to the steps we've taken, Omicron has not yet spread as fast as it would've otherwise done and as is happening in Europe.

"It's here now and its spreading and it is going to increase.

"For the unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and dead for unvaccinated.

"For themselves, their families and the hospitals they will soon overwhelm.

"But there is good news, if you are vaccinated and have your booster shot, you are protected from severe illness and death."

While on the Trevor Philips show on Sunday December 19, Javid said: "I cannot emphasize this enough, the impact that the unvaccinated are having on the rest of society.

"They must really think about the damage they are doing to society. They take up hospital beds that could have been used for someone with a heart problem or someone waiting for an elective surgery.

"Instead of protecting themselves and protecting the community, they choose not to get vaccinated.

"They are really having a damaging impact, I just can't stress this enough, please do come forward and get vaccinated.

"It is a really positive thing to do, not just for yourself and your loved ones but for your community as well."

Neither the U.K. nor the U.S currently has taken steps towards making vaccination mandatory.

At the begging of December, The European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen admitted the EU would be considering it going forward.

On December 1, the Telegraph reported Von der Leyen was asked whether she supported mandatory jabs.

She said "We have vaccines, the life-saving vaccines, but they are not being used adequately everywhere.

"This costs... this is an enormous health cost coming along.

"If you look at the numbers, we have now 77 percent of the adults in the European Union vaccinated or if you take the whole population, it's 66 percent.

"This means one-third of the European population is not vaccinated. These are 150 million people.

"This is a lot, and not each and everyone can be vaccinated children, for example, or people with special medical conditions but the vast majority could, and therefore, I think it is understandable and appropriate to lead this discussion now.

"How we can encourage and potentially think about mandatory vaccination within the European Union, this needs discussion. This needs a common approach, but it is a discussion that I think has to be met."