Bacterial Meningitis

During the last Texas legislative session (the 82^nd Texas Legislature), Senate Bill 1107 was passed and signed into law by Governor Rick Perry.  SB 1107 requires that all students (unless exempted as noted below) entering a public, private or independent Institution of higher education in Texas as of January 1, 2012 and thereafter to provide documentation that they have had a meningococcal (bacterial meningitis) vaccine or booster dose during the five-year period preceding the first day of semester classes and no later than 10 days before the first day of semester classes or meet criteria for declining such a vaccination.  For entire text of Texas Senate Bill 1107, refer to http://www.legis.state.tx.us

You are exempt from this requirement if:

• You will be 30 or older on the first day of classes of the semester in which you are enrolling at Northwood University.
• You cannot take the vaccine because of medical reasons and you provide the required documentation as listed below.
• You decline the vaccine due to reasons of conscience, including a religious belief and provide the required documentation as listed below.

Beginning on January 1, 2012, entering students will be required to provide either evidence of vaccination against bacterial meningitis during the five-year period preceding the first day of semester classes and no later than 10 days before the first day of semester classes or a signed (notarized ) affidavit declining the vaccination prior to entering classes.  Students will not be allowed to start classes until one of the following documents is received by the Admissions and/or Health Services Department.

TWO REQUIREMENTS:

(1) NU Meningitis Vaccination Verification Form and (2) one of the following:

a. Evidence the student has received the vaccination (student must have received vaccination or booster dose during the five-year period preceding the first day of semester classes and no later than 10 days before the first day of semester classes) must be submitted in one of the following formats:

• A document bearing the signature or stamp of the physician or his/her designee, or public health personnel (must include the month, day, and year the vaccination was administered and the student’s name). OR
• An official immunization record generated from a state or local health authority (must include the month, day, and year the vaccination was administered and student name). OR
• An official record received from school officials, including a record from another state (must include the month, day, and year the vaccination was administered.)

OR

b. Evidence the student is declining the vaccination must be submitted in one of the following two formats:

• An affidavit (notarized) 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 (notarized) 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 (“Affidavit Request for Exemption from Immunization for Reasons of Conscience”) https://webds.dshs.state.tx.us/immco/default.aspx from the Texas Department of State Health Services must be used.   Please be aware this process takes a significant amount of time, so begin well in advance of your intended registration date.

If you have not already received the meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine, contact your primary healthcare provider or your local public health clinic to determine availability.  Most large pediatrician offices offer the vaccine and the cost will depend on your insurance coverage.  Most local health departments will offer the vaccine at low cost.  However, these offices often limit vaccination times, so be sure to call ahead.

Please mail or fax the verification document and the NU Meningitis Vaccination Verification Form to the Admissions Department, fax 972.291.5691.