Salt Lake City health professionals administered the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday to people over 70 in the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“We often pray for this literal gift of God,” said President Russell M. Nelson in a message posted on his Facebook and Instagram accounts after rolling up the left sleeve of his white shirt and smiling as a healthcare professional administered the injection. in him.
He and his advisors in the First Presidency also released an official statement on Tuesday urging church members to “help contain the pandemic by protecting themselves and others through immunization” because “vaccines administered by competent medical professionals protect health and preserve life “, according to a news release.
President Nelson noted that the church has supported vaccination for generations. Its humanitarian arm, Latter-day Saint Charities, has funded more than 116 million vaccinations for various diseases worldwide in the past few decades, according to the press release.
Eight of the 15 senior church leaders are over 70 and are therefore eligible for the vaccine now under Utah guidelines. Along with President Nelson, 96, the following received the first dose of the two-dose vaccine: Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring, of the First Presidency; President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve; and Elders Jeffrey R. Holland, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Quentin L. Cook and D. Todd Christofferson.
The other seven senior church leaders are all in their 60s and will wait for the vaccine with other young Utahns, including two 69-year-old elders Neil L. Andersen and Ronald A. Rasband.
The leaders’ spouses also received the vaccine – sisters Wendy Nelson, Kristen Oaks, Patricia Holland, Harriet Uchtdorf, Mary Cook and Kathy Christofferson.
“With the approval of our doctor, my wife, Wendy, and I were vaccinated against COVID-19 today,” said President Nelson in his social media posts. “We are very grateful. This was the first week that any one of us was eligible to receive the vaccine. We thank the countless doctors, scientists, researchers, manufacturers, government leaders and others who have done the hard work necessary to make this vaccine available ”.
Images shared by the church showed several of the leaders with the sleeves of their white shirts rolled up sitting beside tables covered with syringes and bandages.
Other photos showed leaders working on paperwork and wearing masks – Elder Uchtdorf’s mask carried the phrase “Love, Share, Invite”.
“I am happy that it is our turn to receive this vaccination,” said President Oaks in the statement. “We are very hopeful that the general vaccination of the population will help us to overcome this terrible pandemic. It is hopeful, like the light at the end of the tunnel. There is relief and appreciation involved for those who invented the vaccine and for those who made it generally available on a sensible priority system. “
President Nelson, a retired pioneering cardiac surgeon, led the global fast and prayers for pandemic relief, noting earlier this year that “qualified scientists and researchers are working diligently to develop and distribute a coronavirus vaccine”.
In his post on social media on Tuesday, President Nelson, who published dozens of medical studies as a researcher, recalled growing up in an America ravaged by polio and Dr. Jonas Salk’s 1953 announcement that he had developed a vaccine.
“I then saw the dramatic impact that the vaccine had on polio eradication, since most people around the world were vaccinated,” said President Nelson in his post.
The church has participated in the eradication of diseases through vaccines. Latter-day Saint Charities was part of partnerships that helped eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus in Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019 and eradicated the wild poliovirus in Africa in 2020.
Latter-day Saint Charities provides money to global immunization partners “to purchase and supply vaccines, monitor disease, respond to outbreaks, train healthcare professionals and develop programs for elimination and eradication. The results include more immunized children and fewer lives lost to measles, rubella, maternal and neonatal tetanus, polio, diarrhea, pneumonia and yellow fever. “
Here is the official statement from the full church:
“In word and deed, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has supported vaccination for generations. As a prominent component of our humanitarian efforts, the church has financed, distributed and administered life-saving vaccines worldwide. The vaccinations helped to contain or eliminate devastating communicable diseases, such as: polio, diphtheria, tetanus, smallpox and measles. Vaccines administered by competent medical professionals protect health and preserve life.
“As this pandemic spread across the world, the church immediately canceled meetings, closed temples and restricted other activities due to our desire to be good global citizens and to do our part to fight the pandemic.
“Now, the COVID-19 vaccines that many have worked for, prayed for and fasted on are being developed and some are being provided. In accordance with guidelines issued by local health authorities, vaccines were initially offered to healthcare professionals, first responders and other high priority beneficiaries. Because of their age, senior church leaders over 70 now welcome the opportunity to be vaccinated.
“As appropriate opportunities become available, the church encourages its members, staff and missionaries to be good global citizens and to help contain the pandemic by protecting themselves and others through immunization. Individuals are responsible for making their own decisions about vaccination. When making this decision, we recommend that, whenever possible, they consult with a competent medical professional about their personal needs and circumstances. “