SALT LAKE CITY-Friday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encouraged missionaries and prospective missionaries to safeguard themselves and others by being vaccinated.

Per a First Presidency statement released January 19, 2021, individuals are responsible to make their own decisions about vaccination.

Under the direction of their mission leaders, mission medical coordinators are monitoring the availability of the covid-19 vaccine in their mission and informing missionaries when they may receive it.

Young missionaries in the United States who will travel to a mission outside of their home country on or after August 1, 2021, should be vaccinated before traveling.

Senior missionaries may travel to their assigned mission, where visa and travel conditions permit, after they have been vaccinated.

Missionaries who have begun a covid-19 vaccination series should complete it before traveling.

Missionaries who opt not to receive the required immunizations, which now include the covid-19 vaccination, will be assigned to a mission in their home country in accordance with existing Church policies.

As the vaccination becomes more widely available in more countries, these missionaries will be asked to be vaccinated before leaving their home country.