Bacterial Meningitis Vaccine Requirement

Requirement: Texas Senate Bill 1107 passed in May 2011, requires all students entering a public, private, or independent institution of higher education in Texas as of January 2012 and thereafter to provide documentation that they have had the Bacterial Meningitis vaccine or a “booster” dose within five years of the first day of class of the semester they will be enter that institution and no later than 10 days before the first day of classes in that same semester.

STUDENTS WHO MUST COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT AND THOSE WHO ARE EXEMPT.

Unless exempted as noted below, the following entering students must comply with this requirement.

• All NEW students entering UTMB, January 2012 and thereafter.

You are exempt from this requirement if:

• You will be age 30 or older the first day of classes of the semester in which you are enrolling at UTMB.
• You will be enrolled exclusively in online or distance education courses. NOTE: An online or other distance education course that includes a face-to-face component, including meeting in a testing laboratory with other students, or meeting in a classroom to receive interactive video instruction, does not qualify as an online or other distance education course. This includes New Student Orientation.
• You cannot take the vaccine because of medical reasons. To prevent registration from being affected, this must be submitted to Student Health with documentation from your physician.
• You decline the vaccine due to reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. To prevent registration from being affected you must submit to Student Health one of these completed notarized forms. If you will be residing in UTMB Student Housing, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) Vaccine Exemption Affidavit Form must be submitted. This form can be found at www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/school. If you will not be residing in UTMB Student Housing and would like to request an exemption you must submit the form from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. You can find this form at www.thecb.state.tx.us.

Acceptable documentation to prove that you meet the Bacterial Meningitis Vaccine Requirement

Acceptable documentation includes:

• The UTMB Student Health Immunization Record Form signed or stamped by a physician, NP, or PA or other clinic or public health personnel showing month, day, and year of vaccine or booster.
• An official immunization record generated from a state or local health authority that includes the same information as above.
• The signature or stamp of a provider on a form showing month, day, and year of the vaccine or booster.

Documentation must be in English and include full name and date of birth.