Meningitis Vaccine Requirement
Texas Meningitis Vaccination Requirement
Texas State law (Texas Education Code Sec. 51.9192) requires all students under the age of 22 entering an institution of higher education (private or public) to either receive a vaccination against bacterial meningitis or meet certain criteria for declining such a vaccination. Documentation must be submitted 10 days before first day of class.
Texas Immunization RequirementsSubmit Proof of Vaccination
OLLU has partnered with Med+Proctor for the collection of meningitis vaccination records. To submit your record through Med+Proctor follow these steps:
Step 1: Register with Med+Proctor
Visit medproctor.com
and click "register" to start a new account. Type in your OLLU email address (you must use your OLLU issued email address) to get started and follow the directions to register a new account.
Step 2: Download
Fill out any required personal, medical or insurance information. Download the required
forms and follow the directions provided.
Step 3: Upload
Log back into your Med+Proctor
account and upload a copy of your forms. Make sure your forms are complete and legible.
You will receive an email confirmation from Med+Proctor once the forms have been reviewed.
For more information on Meningococcal Disease, visit the National Meningitis Association website.
Approved Meningococcal Vaccines
The meningitis college entry requirement of the Texas Administrative Code states that students must receive a "bacterial meningitis vaccination: meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) or meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4). Both vaccines, MenACWY and MPSV4, protect against the same four strains of bacterial meningitis (A, C, W and Y). You can get the vaccine at a pharmacy such as H-E-B, Walgreen's and CVS, or through your doctor's office or a medical clinic.
Persons who received a meningococcal vaccination more than five years prior to their first day of class as a new student at OLLU must receive a booster dose. Studies have shown that protection from the vaccines diminishes significantly after five years.
Students from other countries who can’t get the required bacterial meningitis vaccination should confirm with their doctor that their vaccine is equivalent and protects against the A, C, Y and W-135 strains of the disease. Otherwise, the student will be required to get another vaccination.
NOTE: Although sometimes recommended, the new Meningococcal Group B (MenB) vaccines (Trumenba and Bexsero), which only protect against one strain (B), do NOT meet the requirement. Incoming students should consult a physician or medical practitioner to determine the optimum vaccination protocol for their individual needs. It is important to note that vaccinations for MenACWY and MenB are not interchangeable. MenB vaccines do not provide protection for MenACWY strains, and MenACWY vaccines do not provide protection for MenB strains.
Vaccination Information
The vaccine is available at area pharmacies such as H-E-B, Walgreen's and CVS, or through a doctor's office or medical clinic.
OLLU has partnered with Med+Proctor for the collection of meningitis vaccination records. To submit your record through Med+Proctor follow these steps:
Step 1: Register with Med+Proctor
Visit medproctor.com and click "register" to start a new account. Type in your OLLU email address (you
must use your OLLU issued email address) to get started and follow the directions
to register a new account.
Step 2: Download
Fill out any required personal, medical or insurance information. Download the required
forms and follow the directions provided.
Step 3: Upload
Log back into your Med+Proctor account and upload a copy of your forms. Make sure your forms are complete and legible.
You will receive an email confirmation from Med+Proctor once the forms have been reviewed.
A person claiming exclusion for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, from a required immunization may only obtain the affidavit form by submitting a request (via online form, mail, fax or hand-delivery) to the department. The request must include following information:
- Full name of child or student
- Child's or student's date of birth (month/day/year)
- Complete mailing address, including telephone number
- Number of requested affidavit forms (not to exceed 5)
Affidavit form requests will be processed and mailed within one week from the receipt of the request. If additional information is needed in order to process the affidavit, you will be notified.
Email or telephone requests cannot be processed. Requests for affidavit forms must be submitted to the department through one of the following methods:
Obtaining an Affidavit Online
Affidavits may be requested via the Immunization Unit Affidavit Request website.
Obtaining an Affidavit By Mail
A written request for an affidavit may be sent through the United States Postal Service (or other commercial carrier) to:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Immunization Branch, Mail Code 1946
P.O. Box 149347
Austin, Texas 78714-9347
Obtaining an Affidavit By Fax
Fax written requests for affidavits to: (512) 776-7544.
Obtaining an Affidavit In Person
Requests for an affidavit may be made in-person at:
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, Texas 78756
NOTE: No requests will be filled at the time of hand-delivery.
All affidavit forms will be mailed to you via U.S. Postal Service.
A student is not required to submit evidence of vaccination against bacterial meningitis if they are:
- 22 years of age or older by the first day of the start of the semester
- Enrolled only in only online classes
- Enrolled in a continuing education course or program that is less than 360 contact hours, or continuing education corporate training
- Enrolled in a dual credit course which is taught at a public or private K-12 facility not located on a higher education institution campus
- Incarcerated in a Texas prison
Approved quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines protect against four of the strains of meningococci that cause disease (A, C, Y and W-135). The vaccines are very effective and safe, but do not cover 100% of the strains that can cause meningococcal disease.*
Approved U.S. brand name vaccines for teenagers and young adults:
- Menactra
- MenQuadfi
- Menveo
Persons who received a meningococcal vaccination more than five years prior to their first day of class as a new student at OLLU must receive a booster dose of either Menactra or Menveo. Studies have shown that protection from the vaccines diminishes significantly after five years.
Students from other countries who can’t get Menactra or Menveo should confirm with their doctor that their vaccine is equivalent and protects against the A, C, Y and W-135 strains of the disease. Otherwise, the student will be required to get another vaccination with either Menactra or Menveo.
*Although recommended, the new Meningococcal Group B (MenB) vaccines (Trumenba and Bexsero), which only protect against one strain (B), do NOT meet the requirement of a quadrivalent vaccine given within 5 years.