Governor Rick Perry recently signed House Bill 4189 which REQUIRES that all freshmen and transfer students who reside in on-campus housing submit evidence that they have been vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis. For the entire text of Texas House Bill 4189, refer to http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/html/HB04189F.htm

Effective January 1, 2010 all students who are newly enrolled at the University of St. Thomas and who will reside in on-campus housing, including apartments leased by the University, must provide evidence of vaccination against bacterial meningitis or must qualify for one of the two permissible exemptions (see below) prior to moving into on-campus housing.  Vaccinations must be administered no fewer than 10 days prior to the student's move-in date. Students will not be permitted to move into on-campus housing until a full 10 days has passed since the date of the vaccination. Students who have been approved for on-campus housing, but who have not received a vaccination in a timely manner will be expected to make alternate arrangements for housing until the full 10 days have elapsed.

Evidence of vaccination (must have received vaccination at least 10 days prior to living on campus) must be submitted in one of the following three formats:

1. 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).
   
   
2. An official immunization record generated from a state or local health authority (must include the month, day, and year the vaccination was administered).
   
   
3. An official record received from school officials, including a record from another state (must include the month, day, and year the vaccination was administered).

Evidence of declining vaccination must be submitted in one of the following two formats:

1. 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.
   
   
2. An affidavit 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 from the Texas Department of State Health Services must be used.  A secure online form entitled “Affidavit Request for Exemption from Immunizations for Reasons of Conscience” can be found at https://webds.dshs.state.tx.us/immco/affidavit.shtm.

Other Vaccination Information
All students who live on campus are also required to have or have record of the following immunizations in addition to the Bacterial Meningitis vaccine:

1. Tetanus-Diptheria-Pertussis (Tdap):
   1. Primary series plus booster required 
   2. Must be within last ten years
2. M.M.R. (Measles, Mumps Rubella)
   1. Two doses required or individual vaccine
3. HEPATITIS B
   1. Three doses of vaccine or a positive Hepatitis surface antibody meets the requirement.
4. Tuberculosis
   1. Required regardless of prior BCG inoculation 
   2. Must have been tested within the last 12 months

The immunization forms can be found by clicking here.  Please note that a medical professional MUST sign the form provided by the University; however, a copy of your shot record with a physician’s signature showing all necessary vaccines will suffice, as well.

All the aforementioned vaccines are also highly recommended for students who do not live on campus.

***You can receive all of these vaccinations from your primary care physician.

All vaccinations must be received by the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness no later than Friday, August 6, 2010 for the 2010-2011 Fall Semester.

If you have any additional questions please contact the Health Promotion and Wellness office.
Jesselyn C. Heidelberg
Assistant Director
Office of Health Promotion and Wellness
purveyjc@stthom.edu
Tel: 713-525-3513
Fax: 713-525-3514