1.  What is the requirement?
   
   1. The Texas Legislature now requires that all incoming Texas college students under 30 years of age must submit evidence that they have received a vaccination or booster against bacterial meningitis.
2. What if I am 30 or older?
   
   1. You are not required to submit evidence of receiving the vaccination against bacterial meningitis if you are 30 years of age or older by the first day of the semester in which you enroll.
3. How do I prove I am in compliance?
   
   1. Submit one of the following:
      
      1. Certification from a physician or clinic that the student has been vaccinated during the five-year period immediately preceding and at least 10 days prior to the first day of class.
      2. An immunization record from a state or local health authority or an official record received from a state official (must be within 5 years).
      3. Form is available for download at:  www.sanjac.edu/meningitis.
4. Where do I submit verification?
   
   1. You may submit your paperwork to the Enrollment Services Office on any campus or by fax at the following locations:
      Central Campus
      8060 Spencer Hwy., Pasadena, TX 77505

      North Campus
      5800 Uvalde Road, Houston, TX 77049

      South Campus
      13735 Beamer Rd., Houston, TX 77089

      OR
      By fax to 281-669-4720

5. I am transferring to San Jacinto College from another college. Must I comply with this regulation?
   
   1. Yes
6. I intend to enroll in a non-credit, Continuing and Professional Development course. Does the law impact me?
   
   1. No. As long as your course or program is less than 360 contact hours and you are not taking a linked course.
7. I am auditing a course. Does this apply to me?
   
   1. Yes
8. I am currently in high school and will be taking Dual Credit or Early Admission courses. Does this apply to me?
   
   1. Yes
9. I will only be taking Distance Learning classes that are 100% online. Does this apply to me?
   
   1. No. However, you must submit a Meningitis Compliance Form to the Enrollment Services Office.
10. Are there any exceptions to this regulation?
    
    1. Yes.
       
       1. Students who are 30 years or older
       2. Students taking only 100% Distance Learning classes and have submitted a Temporary Waiver Form
       3. Continuing Education students enrolled in a course or program less than 360 contact hours
       4. Students with a signed affidavit or certificate from a licensed physician that states the vaccination would be injurious to the health of the student
       5. Students who sign an affidavit stating that the student declines the meningitis vaccine for reasons of conscience including a religious belief. A Conscientious Exemption Form for adult students (which must be notarized) may be obtained by clicking this link: www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/2554.PDF?CFID=27957543&CFTOKEN=65
       6. A Conscientious Exemption Form for students under 18 may be obtained at this site: (be advised it could take several weeks to obtain this form and it must be notarized)
          https://webds.dshs.state.tx.us/immco/affidavit.shtm
    2. Where can I get the vaccination?
       
       1. Primary care physicians normally offer the meningitis vaccine. The price of the vaccine depends on your insurance coverage and your physician’s practice.
       2. Through a public clinic. You will need to contact the clinic for information on appointments and cost.
       3. Private pharmacy clinics
       4. The vaccine will be available on San Jacinto College campuses on certain dates. Contact the Office of Student Development for further information regarding dates and locations. Note that payment for on-campus vaccinations must be made by cash, check, or credit card. Health insurance will not be accepted.
    3. Where may I obtain additional information about meningitis?
       
       1. The College website contains additional information.

Q. How do I obtain a vaccine exemption for reasons of conscience for my child (under the age of 18)?

A. Each child’s name and date of birth must be included in the request. Written requests must be submitted through the U.S. Postal Service, commercial carrier or fax to or online:

Fax (512) 776-7544
Secure online request form for exemption affidavit:
https://webds.dshs.state.tx.us/immco/affidavit.shtm

Q. What if I have already submitted a request for a vaccine exemption affidavit form by e-mail?

A. Any request submitted by e-mail will need to be resubmitted in writing and sent through the U.S. Postal Service, commercial carrier, fax or online.

Q. How many vaccine exemption affidavit forms can a parent or guardian request at one time?

A. Parents or guardians can request up to five vaccine exemption affidavit forms per child.

Q. What information will be listed on the vaccine exemption affidavit form I receive?

A. Information on the form will include the child’s name; date of birth; a list of vaccines for which exemptions may be requested; a statement for the requesting parent or guardian to indicate their relationship to the child; and an acknowledgement that the parent or guardian has read attached information entitled The Benefits and Risks of Vaccinations.  Parents or guardians will then have to sign the form in front of a notary public.

Q. What will happen to the information collected on each child?

A. No other information will be maintained.

Q. What should parents or guardians do with the vaccine exemption affidavit form?

A. After the original vaccine exemption affidavit form is signed and notarized, it must be submitted to the child’s school.

Q.  For how long is each child’s individual exemption affidavit valid?

A. Each individual vaccine exemption affidavit is good for two years from the date notarized.

Q. What happens if the parent or school loses the original vaccine exemption affidavit?

A. If parents or schools lose the exemption affidavit, the parent or guardian needs to request another vaccine exemption affidavit in writing following the same procedures used to obtain the first form.

Q. What if my child changes schools?

A. The vaccine exemption affidavit is part of the child’s school records and should be sent to the new school with other school records.

Q.  Does a child have a 90-day provisional enrollment in school while awaiting the vaccine exemption form?

A. Admission to a school is not allowed until records are produced showing that (1) the child has been immunized in accordance with the rules; (2) the child has an exemption affidavit from immunization requirements on file with the school in accordance with the rules; or (3) that the child is entitled to provisional enrollment.

Q. What is required for school enrollment if I want my child exempt from some vaccines but not all of them?

A. Two different immunization documents will be needed: 1) an official notarized DSHS vaccine exemption affidavit for those vaccines the parent or guardian has chosen for reasons of conscience to have their child exempt from; and 2) a valid immunization record indicating the month, date and year each vaccine for which the child is not exempt was administered, with appropriate validation by a physician or public health clinic.

Q.  If a child currently has a religious exemption for vaccinations on file with the school do they need to obtain a new vaccine exemption for reasons of conscience affidavit?

A. The religious exemption on file remains valid.

Q. What if there is a vaccine-preventable disease—such as measles—outbreak at a school?

A. Each parent or guardian who signs a vaccine exemption affidavit form also is acknowledging they understand that their child may be excluded from school attendance in times of emergency or epidemic declared by the Texas Commissioner of Health.

Q. Does this new vaccine exemption option mean that my vaccinated child may be attending school with other children who are not fully vaccinated?

A. Yes.

Q. Can an expectant parent request a vaccination exemption affidavit form for an unborn child?

A. Because the child’s name and date of birth is required when the vaccine exemption affidavit form is requested, expectant parents must wait until after the child is born to request the vaccine exemption affidavit form.

Q. Are there other reasons a child may be exempted from vaccination requirements?

A. The parent or guardian must provide the school with a certificate signed by a physician, registered and licensed to practice medicine in Texas, which states that, in the physician’s opinion, the immunization required would be injurious to the child’s health and well-being or to any of the child’s family or household members. Unless a lifelong condition is specified, that certificate is valid for one year from the date signed by the physician and must be renewed every year for the exclusion to remain in effect.

Q. How do I obtain a vaccine exemption for reasons of conscience if I am 18 or older?

A. A Conscientious Exemption Form for adult students (which must be notarized) may be obtained by clicking this link: www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/2554.PDF?CFID=27957543&CFTOKEN=65