GotMyCallA resource for families of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
For future missionaries ·

Missionary vaccines:
what’s required and how to find your list

The shots listed on the Church’s doctor’s exam form, and where to find what your mission country needs.

Also searched as “Mormon missionary vaccines.” The Church asks to be called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rather than by the nickname “Mormon,” so that’s the name you’ll see here.

Short answer

Your mission’s shot list is in your call packet and the Missionary Portal. Take it to your doctor and record each shot before the MTC.

Mosquito-prone mission? Hot and humid missions →

Where to look in your packet

  1. Open your call packet and find the vaccine list for your mission.
  2. Check the same list in the Missionary Portal.
  3. Take the list to your doctor, and start early.
  4. Record each shot in the portal before you arrive at the MTC.

At a glance

  • On the form: Tdap, MMR, polio, hepatitis A and B, flu and COVID-19.
  • By country: many countries require certain vaccines, so lists differ.
  • Your list: the shot list is in your call packet and the Missionary Portal.
  • Record them: log each shot in the portal before you arrive at the MTC.
  • Cost: pre-mission care, including shots, is paid by the missionary or family.

Details differ by mission. Your call packet and the Missionary Portal are the final word.

On the doctor’s exam form

  • Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough): room for two dates.
  • MMR (measles, mumps, rubella): room for two dates.
  • Polio.
  • Hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
  • Influenza (flu) and COVID-19.

This is a list of dates on a screening form, not a full requirement list.

What your country needs

The official list for your mission is in your call packet and the Missionary Portal.

We don’t list shots by country, because the list you’re given is the one that counts. Confirm in your call packet. To see the missions in your country, browse missions by country.

How long the shots take

  • Hepatitis A and B can take about 6 months. Hepatitis A is two doses at least 6 months apart. Hepatitis B is two or three doses, depending on the brand; the three-dose series takes 6 months. The Church’s health page for humanitarian missionaries says to start these as soon as you decide to serve.
  • Papers can go in up to 150 days ahead of your availability date, which gives time for medical, dental, passport and visa steps.
  • See a provider at least 4 to 6 weeks before you leave for travel shots, and earlier if you need a series.
  • Yellow fever proof starts 10 days after the shot, so it can’t be a last-minute visit.

This isn’t medical advice. Ask your doctor, and follow your mission health packet.

Sources: CDC: hepatitis A vaccine · CDC: hepatitis B vaccine · Church: health requirements for humanitarian missionaries · Church Newsroom · CDC: before you travel · CDC: travelers’ FAQ

Where to get shots, and what they cost

  • Routine shots (like MMR and Tdap) are usually available from your own doctor, a clinic or your local health department.
  • Travel shots may need a travel clinic, since a regular doctor may not stock them.
  • Yellow fever is only given at registered yellow fever clinics. Call well ahead; the CDC has a clinic search.
  • Cost: the missionary or family pays for pre-mission care, including shots. Prices vary by provider and insurance, and the Church notes some can be costly, so call your insurance first.
  • Bring records: take your official shot records and your mission’s list to each visit.

Sources: CDC: travelers’ FAQ · CDC: before you travel · Church: health requirements for humanitarian missionaries

Yellow fever and the yellow card

Yellow fever is a risk in parts of Africa and South America, and some countries there require proof of the vaccine to enter. If it’s on your mission’s list:

  • The proof is the yellow card, the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. Without it, a traveler can be denied entry, quarantined or given the shot again.
  • It’s valid 10 days after the shot, and for most people one dose lasts for life.
  • Keep it with your passport, and a photo of it with your shot records.
  • Other shots by country may include typhoid or Japanese encephalitis. The CDC recommends that all international travelers be fully vaccinated against measles.

This isn’t medical advice. Ask your doctor, and follow your mission health packet.

Sources: CDC: the yellow card · CDC: yellow fever vaccine · CDC: travelers’ FAQ · Church: health requirements for humanitarian missionaries · CDC: destinations

Tips for families

  • Start early. Some vaccines need more than one visit, and hepatitis A and B can take about 6 months.
  • Bring the list from your call packet to the doctor.
  • Record each shot in the portal. If shots aren’t shown complete, reminder emails are sent.
  • Keep a copy of your shot records with your travel papers.

Questions

What vaccines do LDS missionaries need?

The doctor’s exam form lists Tdap, MMR, polio, hepatitis A and B, flu and COVID-19. Your mission’s list is in your call packet and the portal.

Are missionary vaccines different by country?

Yes. Many countries require certain vaccines. The shot list for your mission is in your call packet and the Missionary Portal.

Where do I record my vaccines?

In the Missionary Portal, before you arrive at the MTC. If they aren’t shown as complete, reminder emails are sent.

Who pays for missionary vaccines?

The missionary or the people supporting them pay for pre-mission care, including immunizations.

How long do missionary vaccines take?

Start early. Hepatitis A and B can take about 6 months to finish, and the CDC suggests seeing a provider at least 4 to 6 weeks before you leave. Ask your doctor and follow your mission health packet.

Where can I get the yellow fever vaccine?

Only at a registered yellow fever clinic. Call well ahead. The CDC has a clinic search, and proof is valid 10 days after the shot.

Does insurance cover missionary vaccines?

It depends on your plan. The CDC says prices vary by provider and insurance coverage, so call your insurance before you book. The missionary or family pays for pre-mission care.

Do I need the yellow fever vaccine for my mission?

Only if it’s on your mission’s list. Some countries in Africa and South America require proof, called the yellow card. Your call packet and the Missionary Portal say what your mission needs.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine required?

The form has a line for it. Whether your mission requires it isn’t on a public page we can cite, so confirm in your call packet.

Sources

. Rules change, so official pages, your call packet and the Missionary Portal are always the final word. GotMyCall is unofficial and not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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