Texas Senate Bill 1107 requires that all new and returning students under age 22 who attend on-campus classes at an institution of higher learning either receive a vaccination against bacterial meningitis or meet certain criteria for declining such a vaccination before the first day of the semester. A MenACWY vaccine, such as Menactra, Menveo, or MenQuadfi, are needed to fulfill this requirement.
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 University students under age 22 who were not enrolled in the previous long semester must provide proof of a bacterial meningitis vaccination or exemption through one of the five methods listed below:
1. The Lamar University IMMUNIZATION RECORD/MEDICAL EXEMPTION FORM that is completed and signed by a physician, his or her designee, or public health official.
2. A document bearing the signature or stamp of a physician, his or her designee, or public health official.
3. An official immunization record generated by a state or local health authority.
4. An official school record that indicates a current bacterial meningitis vaccination.
5. 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. This document must state the name of the physician and the name and address of the medical facility.
6. An affidavit, which must be signed by the student and notarized, stating that the student declines the vaccination for bacterial meningitis for reasons of conscience, which may include a religious belief. The exemption form must be requested from the Texas Department of State Health Services and may take up to two weeks for delivery by mail - Request for Conscientious Objection Form.
Facilities where the vaccination may be available appear below.
Send immunization or exemption documents:
In Person: Records Office, Wimberly 102
By Mail: Lamar University
Records Office
P.O. Box 10010
Beaumont TX 77710
By E-mail: immunization@lamar.edu