Meningitis Vaccine Requirement
Texas Meningitis Vaccination Requirement
Texas State law (SB 62) mandates that all entering students under the age of 22 provide a certificate signed by a health care provider or an official immunization record verifying that a student has been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis, or has received a booster during the five years preceding admission to the University. Documentation must be submitted 10 days before first day of class.
Texas Immunization RequirementsSubmit Proof of Vaccination
Be sure to upload the information in your online application: https://myapp.ollusa.edu/register/vaccination
If you are unable to upload your form, please mail, fax or drop off in person to:
Our Lady of the Lake University
Health Education Resource Office
411 S.W. 24th Street
San Antonio, TX 78207
Fax: 210-431-4091
Email: healtheducation@ollusa.edu
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).
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
Students under 22 years of age who will take any face-to-face or hybrid classes that require on-campus attendance must meet the meningitis vaccination requirement. Documentation must be submitted at least 10 days prior to the student's first in-person class. You must have a current username/password and please upload documentation at https://myapp.ollusa.edu/register/vaccination.
Acceptable evidence of vaccination may include any of the following:
- A document bearing the signature or stamp of the physician or his/her designee or
public health personnel (must include the month, day and year the vaccination was
administered). Records without a signature or stamp will not be approved.
- An official immunization record from a government health authority (must include the month, day and year the vaccination was administered).
- An official immunization record received from school officials, including a record from another state (must include the month, day and year the vaccination was administered).
- All records must be in English to be approved.
An activated username and password required to submit proof of vaccination.
Upload Proof of Vaccination
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 Texas State 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.