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Bacterial Meningitis Requirements

Please read all of the following information regarding bacterial meningitis vaccination requirements for all new students entering Texas A&M University-Kingsville. All new students are required to obtain proof of bacterial meningitis vaccination before they will be allowed to attend orientation and register for/attend classes on campus. Students must obtain the necessary vaccination documentation prior to attending orientation (Hoggie Days/Transfer Thursdays).

Effective January 1, 2012

During the 82nd Texas Legislative session, Senate Bill 1107 was passed, which requires all new students, transfer students and returning students attending an institution of higher education to provide proof of an initial bacterial meningitis vaccination or booster dose during the five-year period preceding, and at least 10 days prior to, the first class day of the first semester in which the student initially enrolls at an institution. Without evidence of vaccination or exemption from the vaccination, a student cannot register for classes, attend on-campus classes or live on campus.

Please note the vaccination must be administered at least 10 days prior to the first day of classes (August 29th) and cannot have been administered more than five years prior to the start of classes. Please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website for additional information about the new law and changes that have been made to the policy.

Students who do not provide evidence of vaccination will not be allowed to attend classes or move into residence halls and will be dropped from all classes on the first class day of the entering semester. Proof of vaccination or exemption should be provided to TAMUK Student Health and Wellness by mail, fax or in person:

Mailing Address:
Student Health and Wellness
Health Care Clinic
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
MSC 112, 700 University Blvd.
Kingsville, Texas 78363

Fax: (361) 593-2006

Physical Address (In Person):
Student Health and Wellness Building
1210 Retama
Kingsville, Texas

The new law does not apply to the following groups of students:

• Student is 30 years of age or older by the first day of the semester
• Student is enrolled only in online courses or other distance education courses
• Dual enrolled student who does not attend class(es) on campus

Online and other distance education course: A course in which the instructor and student(s) are not in the same location.  An online course typically involves web-based instruction, but might also include correspondence instruction.  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 for the purposes of this subchapter.

Entering student includes:

• New student: a first-time student of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education, including a student who transfers to the institution from another institution;
• Returning student: a student who previously attended an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education before January 1, 2012, and who is enrolling in the same or another institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education following a break in enrollment of at least one fall or spring semester.

Valid proof of vaccination or receiving a booster dose includes:

• the signature or stamp of a physician or his/her designee, or public health personnel on a form which shows the month, day and year the vaccination does or booster was administered;
• an official immunization record generated from a state or local health authority; or
• an official record received from school officials, including a record from another state.

 Exceptions For Exemption

A student is not required to submit evidence of receiving the vaccination against bacterial meningitis or evidence of receiving a booster dose if:

• the student is 30 years of age or older by the first day of the start of the semester, or
• the student is enrolled only in online or other distance education courses; or
• the student is enrolled in a continuing education course or program that is less than 360 contact hours, or continuing education corporate training; or
• the student is 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; or
• the student is incarcerated in a Texas prison.

A student, or a parent or guardian of a student, is not required to submit evidence of receiving the vaccination against bacterial meningitis if the student, or a parent or guardian of a student, submits to the institution:

• an affidavit or a certificate signed by a physician who is duly registered and licensed to practice medicine in the United States, in which it is stated that, in the physician's opinion, the vaccination required would be injurious to the health and well-being of the student; or
• an affidavit signed by the student stating that the student declines the vaccination for bacterial meningitis for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief.  A conscientious exemption form from the Texas Department of State Health Services must be used.  (Form may be found at https://webds.dshs.state.tx.us/immco/affidavit.shtm.)

*NEW POLICY REVISION* Due to policy revisions, students who wish to file an affidavit stating that they decline the bacterial meningitis vaccination for reasons of conscience may now use the office of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's form. The reasons of conscience exemption form, along with additional changes made to the rules of the policy, can be found on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website.

Please click here to review and/or print a bacterial meningitis information sheet. Please contact TAMUK Student Health and Wellness at (361) 593-2904 or visit www.tamuk.edu/shw for questions or additional information.