In a message sent by the Missionary Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to church leaders on Apr. 23, the church encouraged all missionaries and prospective missionaries to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

For missionaries already serving their mission, leaders will monitor the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine in their mission, informing missionaries when they may receive it.

In the message it was stated that “missionaries in the United States who will travel to a mission outside their home country on or after Aug. 1, should be vaccinated before traveling.

The church shared that individuals are responsible to make their own decisions about vaccination, but that missionaries who choose not to receive the required immunizations, which will now include the COVID-19 vaccination, will be assigned to a mission in their home country.