On October 15, 2021, we made an announcement that the COVID-19 vaccine, not a negative test or antibody test, is required for all 2022 HXP Builders. As responsible humanitarians, we are uncomfortable bringing our groups into locations with limited health care access and potentially exposing them to the Coronavirus in the name of our own experience. While we understand that there are various opinions about the vaccine with valid concerns on both sides, this decision is final. To view the content of that email, click the button below.
The people we serve with often do not have the same opportunity to be vaccinated that we do, and we cannot put them at risk in good conscience. With 5,000 Builders, 300 Trip Leaders, and 47 global locations, our impact is expansive. While we wish we had the luxury of addressing cases at an individual level, we cannot. Here are some insights into why we, with a team of medical and legal professionals, made this decision:
1. As responsible humanitarians, we are uncomfortable bringing our groups into locations with limited health care access and potentially exposing them to the Coronavirus in the name of our own experience. The people we serve with don’t have the same opportunity to be vaccinated that we do, and we cannot put them at risk in good conscience.
2. Last year, we had to do insane mental and logistical gymnastics to navigate various COVID-19 regulations. Deferred Builders, reroutes, flight changes, and other unexpected barriers made for an extremely taxing year and kept our office from communicating regularly with our base and providing a great Builder experience before trips left. Outbreaks before, during, and after trips negatively impacted entire groups during the summer. As a business, this decision simplifies the variety of information we have to keep tabs on leading up to and throughout Summer 2022.
3. This year, locals in the locations we serve have asked that if we came back to their area, we made sure to come back vaccinated. This agreement affects the locations we travel to, service projects we can do, and sightseeing opportunities we have access to. As COVID-19 vaccines are more widely distributed and accepted around the world, many locations are beginning to require vaccination for entry, and we expect this trend to continue. We are excited that so many trips are able to reopen this year because of our Builders’ vaccinated status!
4. Although we are an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we are aligned with the principles, vision, and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because of this, we are choosing to follow the First Presidency’s recent statement regarding the COVID-19 vaccination.
5. The FDA’s full approval of the vaccine solidified our decision to require it for our Builders and Trip Leaders. They’ve stated that all three COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J) are extremely effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death—even from the Delta variant. Additionally, these vaccines have been through intensive safety monitoring. If you have further questions or concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, we encourage you to direct them to your healthcare provider.