Influenza Vaccine Requirements for Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The following information was shared with me by a missionary who was told he must get the influenza vaccine, against his wishes, while serving in a foreign (not US) mission. He respectfully asserted his right to informed consent and received this email in response.

From: [Mission Doctor]
Date: Thu, 18 Apr. 2019, 9:24 pm
Subject: Influenza vaccinations
To: [Missionary]

Attached is your electronic signed Missionary Application.  As you can see you agreed to receive vaccinations.  Attached also are two policies concerning vaccinations.  On states that although receiving a vaccination is a personal decision, all missionaries should be encouraged to receive an annual flu vaccination. In other words, an annual influenza immunization is recommended.  This policy was approved April 2018.  A second policy states Immunizations are not a requirement for missionary service, but young or senior missionaries who decline or are unable to receive immunizations will serve in their home countries.  Influenzas [sic] is one of the vaccines but a personal exemption is not listed.  This policy was approved December 2018.  As I understand it the latest  policy become the guiding rule.  If I am wrong, my apologies.I still respect your right to choose.   I will still help you medically any time and any place.  I do not harbor any ill feelings.  Best of everything to you future missionary work.

[Mission Doctor]

The mother and missionary requested further clarification on the flu shot from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary Department. Here is that communication:

From: Randall James Ryser 

Date: Thu, Apr 18, 2019 at 6:08 PM

Subject: ______ and Flu vaccination

To: 
Sister ______,

For good reasons, the missionary department strongly recommends that missionaries receive the influenza vaccine in the appropriate season for the part of the world in which they are serving. 

My experience in the missionary department and my understanding of the missionary medical policy is that the influenza vaccination is strongly recommended, but not mandatory as a condition for continuing missionary service. A prior adverse reaction would be a reason not to receive that vaccine again.

The church policy for influenza vaccination is attached. 

Randall Ryser

Comments

    1. What a fabulous talk! Elder Wilson captures the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ–agency and accountability. Thank you!

  1. So did the Savior, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick.” (Mark 2:17)

    Am I mistaken that Mark was a doctor as well…and a disciple of the Lord?

    1. Luke was a doctor. His writing indicate this. Mark was a teen when following Jesus as meetings were held in the home of his mother. Book of Mark has it all and written from view of an interested teen.

  2. I, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, am so relieved and happy to see these statements regarding the church’s stand on the vaccine issue. The freedom to choose, is so very vital and important, as it pertains to all issues in our lives, especially on medical decisions. Thank you for clarifying and educating us.

  3. I was given a vaccine in the MTC in Provo in 1998 that almost killed me. No one told me that it or any other vaccines that I’d received prior to my service were optional. Also, nobody told me that there were any risks with vaccines, that they sometimes killed or maimed people. I’ve not had a vaccine since then for obvious reasons, and I don’t let my kids get them. If one of my kids wanted to serve a mission and was told they have to get vaccinated, I’d tell them to not go. It’s not worth potentially being killed or crippled for life – and most of the diseases vaccinated for are rare or in some cases mild, or only a problem in the context of severe nutritional deficiencies not common for Americans, and in some cases aren’t even infectious from one person to the other. Less people would support vaccination if they understood the risks, and the untrustworthiness of the vaccine companies and conventional medical industry as a whole, and their corruption – such as it being impossible to sue them if a vaccine does kill or maim you or your child. Instead taxpayer money is used to compensate victims (only some, many cases of vaccine injury are rejected by the secret vaccine court which doctors almost never inform anyone about). For anyone who doesn’t know what I’m talking about, it’s time to start researching info that goes against mainstream narratives. I believe you’ll come to realize how false they are if you go about it sincerely wanting to know the truth.

    1. Amen! WE have desires to help inform others of the things you have sadly had to discover by first hand experience. Our prayers are with you and all who have been injured by vaccines for the gain of others. We love and forgive our errant brothers and sisters but will fight a good fight of truth dissemination to as many as we can to prevent others from having to experience what you have had to in your lifetime. I am certain that your mission is to help wake up your fellow beings to these dangers with a spirit of Love and forgiveness as our Savior would have us do. The war in heaven is only transferred to this realm but the wonderful truth is, ” God shall prevail!”

    2. Thank you for such an informed comment. You are completely right if the side effects were better known many less people would get vaccines.

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