Resources on COVID-19: Vaccination Information, Guidance on Immunization, and Additional NAD News and Information

March 30, 2021 | Columbia, Md. | North American Division

The North American Division has put together a series of links to offer guidance about vaccines from national and international health organizations, the General Conference, and healthcare experts. The COVID-19 vaccine is highlighted in particular. Also included here are practical articles, NAD statements, and more.

North American Division Position on Requests for Religious Exemptions to Vaccine Requirements

Voted recommendations to NAD Administration regarding requests for religious exemptions to vaccine requirements:

The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (NAD) is committed to sharing hope and wholeness through the healing ministry of Christ by promoting the Church’s historic health message. This includes caring for our own bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19,20) and ministering to the health of others within our community (Isaiah 58).  

In line with this commitment, the NAD fully supports the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s statement encouraging “responsible immunization/vaccination,” and as such has “no religious or faith-based reason not to encourage [its] adherents to responsibly participate in protective and preventive immunization programs.”

While the Church’s statement recognizes it is “not the conscience of the individual church member, and recognize[s] individual choices,” the choice not to be vaccinated is not based on Seventh-day Adventist Church teachings or doctrine. For this reason, the Adventist church in North America does not provide Church-endorsed vaccine exemption request letters.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church respects convictions of conscience. While the NAD cannot endorse that vaccine refusal represents Adventist teachings, your local Union Public Affairs and Religious Liberty ministry is available to advise you in writing your own letter if you choose to pursue an individual vaccine exemption.

NAD COVID-19 Taskforce

Report presented to the 2021 North American Division Year-End Meeting on November 2 (below).

SYMPOSIUM: "Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Trustworthy? A Biblical Conversation About Science"

On May 15, the North American Division broadcast this symposium on COVID-19 vaccines. Healthcare professionals, communication experts, and church theologians gathered to help make sure church members are well informed when deciding whether to take the vaccine. Read the news report by clicking HERE; watch the symposium below (presentation begins at 2:20).

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

General Conference Guidance on Immunizations

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iStock photography

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Links

World Health Organization (WHO) Links

AdventHealth Vaccine Resource Hub

Johns Hopkins Medicine - Health

NAD Webinar on Vaccines

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Link

NAD Links

STATEMENTS

VACCINE SPECIFIC VIDEOS AND ARTICLES

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iStock Photography

LIFESTYLE/PERSONALLY HELPFUL ARTICLES

NAD FUNDING NEWS — COVID-19 RELATED