Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Requirement

Texas Senate Bill 1107 (now TEC 51.9192) requires all students under the age of 22 entering an institution of higher education (public and private) to either receive a vaccination against bacterial meningitis or meet certain criteria for declining such a vaccination before the first day of the semester. 

The law states that students who do not qualify for an exemption must be immunized no later than 10 days prior to the first class day. This vaccination is valid for a five-year period. All records must state the name of the vaccination, the name and address of the medical facility, and the day, month and year that the vaccination was administered.

All new or returning Lamar State College Orange students under age 22 who were not enrolled in the previousl long semster must provide proof of a bacterial meningitis vaccination or exemption through one of the methods listed below:

1. A document bearing the signature or stamp of a physician, his or her designee, or public health official.
2. An official immunization record generated by a state or local health authority.
3. An official school record that indicates a current bacterial meningitis vaccination.

You are exempt from the vaccination requirements if any of the following apply:

1. You will be age 22 or older on the first day of the semester you are exempt.
2. You only intend to enroll in Distance Education/Online courses ONLY, you must submit the petition for a waiver available here - Petition to Waive Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Requirement for Distance Education Enrollment ONLY. 
3. You cannot take the vaccine because it would be injurious to your health and well-being. Provide 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.
4. You decline the vaccine due to reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. Students attending community college or public junior college may generate and print a conscientious exemption affidavit for the bacterial meningitis vaccine requirement online Exemption from Meningococcal Vaccination Requirement for Reasons of Conscience. On the online form, please select other as the institution and enter the college name: Lamar State College Orange and then print the form and email, mail, or hand-deliver.

Submit your immunization record, petition to waive the bacterial meningitis vaccination, or exemption:

Important Considerations

• Proof of vaccination or waiver is required five days (excluding weekends and holidays) before first class day. If not received, your courses will be dropped prior to the start of class. Reinstatement is contingent upon receipt of vaccination record or waiver through first class day. 
• You must receive the bacterial meningitis vaccination at least 10 days prior to the start of the semester. The vaccination must be no more than five years old from the date you first enroll.
• Meningitis documents must be in English. If a meningitis document is received in another language, then the document needs to be translated. A seal or stamp must be on the translated document in order to be considered an official record.
• International students are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to obtain the bacterial meningitis vaccination BEFORE entering the United States.