Meningitis Vaccination Requirement

Medical information about meningococcal meningitis can be found online.

Approved quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines protect against four of the strains of meningococci that cause disease (A, C, Y, and W-135). The vaccines are very effective and safe, but do not cover 100% of the strains that can cause meningococcal disease.*

Approved U.S. brand name vaccines for teenagers and young adults:

• Menactra 
• MenQuadfi
• Menveo   

Persons who received a meningococcal vaccination more than five years prior to their first day of class as a new student at Texas State University must receive a booster dose of either Menactra or Menveo. Studies have shown that protection from the vaccines diminishes significantly after five years.

Students from other countries who can’t get Menactra or Menveo should confirm with their doctor that their vaccine is equivalent and protects against the A, C, Y, and W-135 strains of the disease. Otherwise, the student will be required to get another vaccination with either Menactra or Menveo.

*Although recommended, the new Meningococcal Group B (MenB) vaccines (Trumenba and Bexsero), which only protect against one strain (B), do NOT meet the requirement of a quadrivalent vaccine given within 5 years.

Yes. A student is not required to submit evidence of vaccination against bacterial meningitis if they are:

• 22 years of age or older by the first day of the start of the semester
• Enrolled only in online or other distance education courses
• Enrolled in a continuing education course or program that is less than 360 contact hours, or 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 higher education institution campus
• Incarcerated in a Texas prison

Approved meningitis vaccinations are available at the following locations:

• Texas State University's Student Health Center offers meningococcal vaccinations. Appointments for the vaccination can be made online or by calling 512.245.2161.
• Private physicians, Pediatricians and Family Medicine in particular, often offer meningococcal vaccinations to their patients. Call your physician to ask about availability and cost of the vaccination.
• Local county health departments offer meningococcal vaccinations at significantly reduced prices for those without health insurance or with limited financial resources. Call your local health department to get information about eligibility, vaccination clinic hours, and cost.
• The Hays County Health Department provides meningococcal vaccinations through the local health clinic, located at 101 Thermon Drive in San Marcos. No appointment is necessary.
• Pharmacies, including those in supermarkets, often provide immunization services. Call to ask about availability and cost of the vaccination.

Acceptable evidence of vaccination may include any of the following:

• 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). Records without a signature or stamp will not be approved.
• An official immunization record from a government health authority (must include the month, day and year the vaccination was administered).
• An official immunization record received from school officials, including a record from another state (must include the month, day and year the vaccination was administered).

All records must be in English to be approved.

TXST requires you to submit proof of your meningitis immunization to Med+Proctor to become compliant. A $10 fee is charged by Med+Proctor for this service. 

1. Go to the MED+PROCTOR website link and log in using your TXST NetID and password.
2. Review and accept the End User Agreement so information can be shared with Texas State University.
3. Pay the $10 fee using credit or debit card.
4. Upload a copy of your immunization document in one of the allowed formats. Make sure your document is complete and legible. You will receive an email confirmation once the forms have been reviewed.

Once submitted, Med+Proctor will review your documentation within 2 business days. If you have any questions about your meningitis vaccine documentation submission, please email Med+Proctor via your Med+Proctor account.

If your documentation is accepted, your meningitis requirement will be marked satisfied within 24 hours after you receive the approval email from Med+Proctor. If your documentation is incomplete, you will receive an email from Med+Proctor to log in to your account. Once logged in, you will see the reason why your documentation is incomplete and will have the opportunity to upload new documentation.

Yes. Students are encouraged to receive the meningitis vaccination because of the higher prevalence of this serious infection in adolescents and young adults. However, a student or the parent or guardian of a student may decline the meningitis vaccination for medical reasons.

An exemption to the vaccination requirement for medical reasons may be requested by providing a medical affidavit or certificate signed by a physician registered and licensed to practice medicine in the United States stating that, in the opinion of the physician, the required meningitis vaccination would be injurious to the health and well-being of the student.

Submit your medical affidavit or certificate to Med+Proctor to become compliant. A $10 fee is charged by Med+Proctor for this service. 

1. Go to the MED+PROCTOR website link and log in using your TXST NetID and password.
2. Review and accept the End User Agreement so information can be shared with Texas State University.
3. Pay the $10 fee using credit or debit card.
4. Upload a copy of your exemption document in one of the allowed formats. Make sure your document is complete and legible. You will receive an email confirmation once the forms have been reviewed.

Once submitted, Med+Proctor will review your documentation within 2 business days. If you have any questions about your documentation submission, please email Med+Proctor via your Med+Proctor account.

If your documentation is accepted, your meningitis requirement will be marked satisfied within 24 hours after you receive the approval email from Med+Proctor. If your documentation is incomplete, you will receive an email from Med+Proctor to log in to your account. Once logged in, you will see the reason why your documentation is incomplete and will have the opportunity to upload new documentation.

Yes. Students are encouraged to receive the meningitis vaccination because of the higher prevalence of this serious infection in adolescents and young adults. However, a student or the parent or guardian of a student may decline the meningitis vaccination for reasons of conscience (including a religious belief).

An exemption to the vaccination requirement may be requested by providing an affidavit signed by the student (or parent/legal guardian of a minor student) stating that the student declines the meningitis vaccination for reasons of conscience. A blank copy of the affidavit may be downloaded from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The completed affidavit must be notarized and mailed or delivered to TXST Admissions at the address provided below within 90 days of notarization and no later than ten (10) days prior to the first day of the first semester in which the student will enroll. The affidavit may NOT be submitted online. 

See image below for proper completion of the affidavit.

Mail documents to:

TXST Admissions
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666