Bacterial Meningitis

Effective January 1, 2012, students applying to Lamar State College Port Arthur must have had a bacterial meningitis vaccine.

A student who has been admitted to an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education, must show evidence of receipt of an initial bacterial meningitis vaccination dose or booster during the five-year period preceding and at least ten (10) days prior to the first day of the first semester in which the student initially enrolls at an institution, or following a break in enrollment of at least one fall or spring semester at the same or another institution.

A student is not required to submit evidence of receiving the vaccination against bacterial meningitis if the student meets any of the following criteria:

The student is 22 years of age or older by the first day of the start of the semester or
The student is enrolled in a continuing education course or program that is less than 360 contact hours, or continuing education corporate training; or
The student is enrolled in a dual credit course which is taught at a public or private K-12 facility not located on a higher education institution campus; or
The student is incarcerated in a Texas prison.
An affidavit or certificate signed by a physician who is duly registered and licensed to practice medicine in the United States, stating that in the physician's opinion, the vaccination would be injurious to the health and well-being of the student; or
An affidavit signed by the student stating that the student declines the vaccination for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. A conscientious exemption form from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) must be used, or
Confirmation that the student has completed the Internet-based Department of State Health Services to claim an exemption for reasons of conscience (for entering students at public junior colleges only).