Meningococcal (Bacterial) Meningitis Vaccination Required — Effective Jan. 1, 2012
What are the requirements?
The Texas Education Code, § 51.9192, subchapter Z, establishes the requirement for meningococcal (bacterial) meningitis vaccination for DCCCD students under the age of 30 to submit evidence of being immunized against bacterial meningitis.
The meningitis vaccination requirement applies to:
- All first time credit students
- All new transfer credit students
- All returning DCCCD students who have experienced a break in DCCCD enrollment of at least one fall or spring term
- New continuing education students enrolled in programs that are at least 360 contact hours or greater
- Returning continuing education students enrolled in programs that are at least 360 contact hours or greater who have experienced a break in DCCCD enrollment
- Dual Credit, Middle College, Early College and Charter High School students attending classes located on a DCCCD campus
- Continuing education students enrolled in a concurrent credit course(s)
What is the deadline to turn in proof of vaccination?
You must submit proof of meningitis vaccination (or booster within the last five years) to your college’s Admissions/Registrar’s Office before registering for class. The date of the vaccination must be at least 10 days before the first day of class. This allows time for the vaccination to take effect.
At least one of the following must be faxed, mailed, emailed (with an attached PDF file) or submitted (in person) to the Admissions/Registrar’s Office:
- Certification from a physician or clinic that the student has been vaccinated during the five-year period immediately preceding and prior to registration.
- An immunization record from a state or local health authority or an official record received from school officials, including a record from another state (must be within five years).
- A completed, signed and dated copy of DCCCD’s Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Verification Form (PDF - 172KB).
The information will be maintained in the Admissions/Registrar’s Office in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations and the Health and Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Important Note: Students who fail to submit required meningitis vaccine documentation will be restricted from registering for classes.
Who does not have to turn in proof of vaccination?
Students are not required to submit evidence of receiving the vaccination against bacterial meningitis or evidence of receiving a booster dose if they are:
- 30 years of age or older by the first day of the start of the semester
- Enrolled in 100 percent distance education classes (You must complete the 100 percent distance education affidavit [PDF - 48KB] and fax or email it to your college.)
- Enrolled in a continuing education course or program that is less than 360 contract hours or in continuing education corporate training
- Enrolled in a dual credit course which is taught at a public or private K-12 facility not located on a DCCCD campus
- Incarcerated in a Texas prison
What are the exemptions to the requirement?
A student, or a parent or guardian of a student, is not required to submit evidence of receiving the vaccination against bacterial meningitis if the student, or a parent or guardian of a student, submits to the Admissions/Registrar’s Office:
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is also referred to as spinal meningitis.
How do I find out more information?
More information about the causes, symptoms, types, risks and seriousness as well as ways to prevent bacterial meningitis are available at the following websites:
Handouts: