State of Texas passes bill requiring incoming students to receive bacterial meningitis vaccinations

Fort Worth, TX

11/11/2011

The State of Texas recently passed Senate Bill 1107, which requires all incoming college and university students under the age of 30 receive the bacterial meningitis vaccine.

Bacterial meningitis is a serious and potentially deadly disease that can progress extremely fast. Meningitis strikes approximately 3,000 Americans annually, including 100-125 on college campuses, leading to 5-15 deaths among college students every year.

In addition to the current requirement that all new TCU students planning to live on campus must be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis, beginning in spring 2012, all incoming students under 30 must also be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis. Any TCU student who has taken a fall or spring semester break from classes, who has not previously submitted proof of a current meningitis vaccination to the TCU Health Center, is required to submit proof of a current meningitis vaccine prior to re-enrolling. Students who are solely enrolled in online or distance education, or extended education courses are exempt.

Current proof of the vaccination must be presented to the Health Center before enrolling in classes. Current defined as having received the vaccination within the past five years and no later than 10 days before the first day of the semester). Students have the ability to claim an exemption from the vaccination, but must do so in writing on the forms provided by the Health Center. (forms available at healthcenter.tcu.edu). Because this is a new Texas law and affects the health of individuals and our community, students affected by the law will not be allowed to enroll in classes until they have submitted proof of the vaccination to the Health Center.

All current students are exempt from the new law, but are strongly encouraged to make sure they are up to date on their meningitis vaccinations because 19-24 is the high-risk age group

For more information visit www.healthcenter.tcu.edu or email healthinfo@tcu.edu.