Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Requirement
Texas Senate Bill 1107 (now TEC 51.9192) requires all students entering an institution of higher education (public and private) to either receive a vaccination against bacterial meningitis or meet certain criteria for declining such a vaccination before the first day of the semester. Texas A&M is partnering with Med+Proctor for the submission of bacterial meningitis vaccination records. Please watch the Texas A&M Med+Proctor videofor more information.
Once you’ve been admitted, register with Med+Proctor in order to complete and submit your Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination record.
You are exempt from the vaccination requirements if any of the following apply:
- You will be age 22 or older on the first day of the semester you are exempt.
- You are a graduate student and intend to enroll in Distance Education courses ONLY. Submit the petition for a waiver available here - Petition to Waive Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Requirement for Graduate Distance Education Enrollment ONLY.
- You cannot take the vaccine because it would be injurious to your health and well-being. Provide 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.
- You decline the vaccine due to reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. PLEASE NOTE: Before you will be allowed to register for classes, you must complete and submit an original, Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) Vaccine Exemption Affidavit Form Affidavit Request for Exemption from Immunizations for Reasons of Conscience. This is the only acceptable documentation for this exemption, and this process takes a significant amount of time. TAMU must receive the original document within 90 days of being notarized; uploaded, faxed or emailed copies are not acceptable. Please mail the completed, original form to Admissions Processing or you may bring it to your New Student Conference.
- Mail: Texas A&M University, Admissions Processing, P.O. Box 30014, College Station, TX 77842-3014
- Hand Delivery: General Services Complex, Admissions Processing, 750 Agronomy Rd., Suite 1601.
Important Information about Bacterial Meningitis
This information is being provided to all new college students in the state of Texas. Bacterial Meningitis is a serious, potentially deadly disease that can progress extremely fast, so take utmost caution. It is an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The bacteria that cause meningitis can also infect the blood. This disease strikes about 3,000 Americans each year, including 100-125 on college campuses, leading to 5-15 deaths among college students every year. There is a treatment, but those who survive may develop severe health problems or disabilities.
Important Considerations
- You should not attempt to register with Med+Proctor as a Texas A&M student before you’re admitted.
- Freshmen and transfer students are encouraged to provide documentation to Med+Proctor prior to their New Student Conference.
- The bacterial meningitis vaccination is available at the Texas A&M University Health Services.
- Meningitis documents must be in English. If a meningitis document is received in another language, then the document needs to be translated. A seal or stamp must be on the translated document in order to be considered an official record.
- International students are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to obtain the bacterial meningitis vaccination BEFORE entering the United States.
- You must receive the bacterial meningitis vaccination at least 10 days prior to the start of the semester. The vaccination must be no more than five years old from the date you first enroll.