Bacterial Meningitis FAQs

There is information on the Apply Texas application:

(https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/html/bacterialmeningitis.html) here the state of Texas provides information on bacterial meningitis, a serious, potentially deadly disease that can progress extremely fast.  For more information you can also go to the Center for Disease Control website:
(http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html) 

Bacterial meningitis is a serious, potentially deadly disease that can progress extremely fast. 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 1 in 20,000 people each year with the highest incident rate in 16-25 year olds. There is a treatment, but those who survive may develop severe health problems or disabilities.

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis:

• High fever
• Rash or purple patches on skin 
• Light sensitivity 
• Confusion and sleepiness 
• Lethargy 
• Severe headache 
• Vomiting 
• Stiff neck 
• Nausea 
• Seizures 

There may be a rash of tiny red-purple spots caused by bleeding under the skin. These can occur anywhere on the body. The more symptoms, the higher the risk, so when these symptoms appear seek immediate medical attention.

Diagnosis is made by a medical provider and is usually based on a combination of clinical symptoms and laboratory results from spinal fluid and blood tests. Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve the likelihood of recovery.

The disease is transmitted when people exchange saliva (such as by kissing, or by sharing drinking containers, utensils, cigarettes, toothbrushes, etc.) or come in contact with respiratory or throat secretions.

Possible complications of the disease include:

• All new, transfer or transient students under age 30.
• Students enrolled in online or dual credit courses who physically attend classes at any
  of the Alamo Colleges.
• New or returning continuing education students enrolled in a course or program that is
  at least 360 contact hours.
   

 Students receiving postponement due to illness, must still meet the deadline of submitting Bacterial Meningitis vaccination documentation no later than 10 days prior to the start of semester.

• Alamo College Bacterial Meningitis Compliance Form (REQUIRED) and supporting vaccination or waiver documents.    
• Documentation must be in English and submitted with the Bacterial Meningitis Immunization Compliance Form.
• An affidavit or a certificate (not a prescription note) signed by a physician who is duly registered and licensed to practice medicine in the United States, and 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.  Documentation must be in English and submitted with the Bacterial Meningitis Immunization Compliance Form.
• A Texas Department of State Health Services conscience exemption form,  applied for at: (https://webds.dshs.state.tx.us/immco/affidavit.shtm) The original form must be notarized and submitted in person or mailed to be valid and submitted with the Bacterial Meningitis Immunization Compliance Form.
• An official record received from school officials, including a record from another state with the school’s name, address, etc. and submitted with the Bacterial Meningitis Immunization Compliance Form.

All documentation must include the type of vaccine, the month, date, and year that the vaccine or booster dose was administered.

Please read the Compliance Form instructions carefully.  All students must choose either option 1 or 2 and fully complete the document.  The Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Compliance Form must have the health professional’s signature and credentials and be submitted with attachments.

Follow this check list and use only blue or black ink:

• Section A – completed by student
  • Full name
  • Banner ID Number
  • ACES Email
  • Valid phone number
  • Local mailing address
  • College planning to attend

• Complete either Option 1 OR Option 2. 
  • Option 1:  You are stating you have received the vaccination within the past five years.
    • Select applicable documentation
    • Provide Date immunized.  Must be month, date and year

• • Completed by Health Care Professional
    • Type of vaccine – only by Health Care Professional
    • Agency giving immunization.  Include address and medical person giving immunization

• • Option 2:  You are seeking a Waiver – Completed by student 
    • Select type of waiver
    • Physician waiver must be on letterhead or 
    • Original waiver must be shown to college personnel, copies will not be accepted

For faster processing, be sure your Banner ID number is clearly written in the top right corner of the Student Information Box on the Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Compliance Form.  It is important to include a valid ACES email address and [local] phone number in case you need to be contacted for missing information.

Mail documents to:
San Antonio College
C/O Immunization Records Center
1300 San Pedro Ave., Box 9999
San Antonio, TX  78212

Email documents to: (Scanned documents in PDF)
dst-bmeningitis@alamo.edu

Fax documents to: 
(210) 486-9873

The email or fax should include all documents in a single transmission  

Drop documents off at:

Northeast Lakeview College students may submit complete documentation to the Welcome Center in the Student Commons (STCM) Building.

Northwest Vista College students may submit complete documentation to Admissions and Records in the Cypress Campus Center, Room 100 (Lobby).
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday	8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
First Saturday of the month	9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
June 4 through July 26 Monday - Thursday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Palo Alto College students may submit complete documentation to Admissions and Records in the Enrollment Center, Palomino Center, Room 117
Monday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday	8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
First Saturday of the month	9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
June 4 through July 26 Monday - Thursday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

St. Philip's College - Welcome Center Lobby
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday	8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
First Saturday of the month	9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
June 4 through July 26 Monday - Thursday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

San Antonio College students may also submit complete documentation at the Admissions & Records window in Fletcher Administration Center (FAC), Room 216.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday	8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesdays	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Floresville Center
Monday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday - Friday	8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
June 4 through July 26 Monday - Thursday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Greater Kerrville Center
Monday - Wednesday, Friday	8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
June 4 through July 26 Monday - Thursday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Central Texas Technology Center
Monday - Friday	8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
June 4 through July 26 Monday - Thursday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

New Braunfels Center
Monday - Tuesday, Thursday - Friday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
June 4 through July 26 Monday - Thursday	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Continuing Education students should submit complete documentation to the Continuing Education office at the college they plan to attend.

The Meningitis vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are MCV4 and MPSV4 which offer the protection for Meningitis groups A, C, Y and W-135.  The MCV4 and MPSV4 are the only vaccines currently accepted.  Please visit the CDC website for more information.

The Texas Department of State Health Services agrees with the CDC recommendation.

The American College Health Association Immunization Guidelines agrees with the CDC recommendation.

• Students 30 years of age or older by the first class day of the semester
• Students who provide:
  • An affidavit or a certificate signed by a physician who is duly registered and licensed to practice medicine in the United States, and 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.
  • A Texas Department of State Health Services conscience exemption form.

• Active military students will need to get the meningitis vaccination.  The Higher Education Coordinating Board regulations pertaining to meningitis are in 19 TAC 21.613 (vaccination requirements) and 21.614 (exceptions), which is under Title 19, Education, Chapter 21, Student Services.  The exceptions in 21.614 do not include active military. 

• Newly admitted students should obtain the required vaccination or booster and documentation upon submitting your application*
• Returning students should obtain the required vaccination or booster and submit documentation before they will be able to register for the semester.

The most common reasons that student documentation may not be accepted and have to be resubmitted include:

• Record is not legible – the copy is not clear or important information is cut off
• Documentation is not recognized – many doctors will use their own form of abbreviation or documentation that cannot be deciphered.
• Incomplete dates – dates must include the day, month and year
• Invalid vaccine – documentation submitted does not include the specific type of bacterial meningitis vaccine or is for an unacceptable vaccine or the vaccination is too old.

• You will not be able to register for classes until the proper documentation is received.
• A registration hold will be placed on your ACES account

For new students: This hold will also prevent you from processing Financial Aid, Advising, and registering for Student Development

The bacterial meningitis vaccine is available at most doctors’ offices and private clinics, many large pharmacy chains, and some minor emergency centers or medi-clinics.  It is best to call to make an appointment at most of these sites.

Students with medical insurance, Medicaid or CHIP: 

The first thing would be to be sure your insurance covers the immunization.  Then, contact your established medical provider to see if they offer the vaccine.  If you choose to go to a different facility please call to be sure they accept your insurance.

Students without medical insurance or whose insurance does not cover the bacterial meningitis vaccine: 

• If the student is 18 or younger they may qualify for the Texas Vaccines for Children Program.  The United Way helpline, 211, will help find providers who participate in this program.
• Many health departments offer the meningitis vaccine as part of children and adult immunization programs. You should call to confirm that they offer the meningitis vaccine for the student’s age and circumstances. A list of “full service” city and county health departments in Texas can be found at (http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/regions/lhds.shtm)
• In San Antonio, the University Health System will provide certain vaccinations at their clinics.  Be sure to call to confirm the clinic you choose offers the bacterial meningitis vaccine.  You can get the list of clinics at (http://www.universityhealthsystem.com) look for the Clinic Information section.

I’m an international student.  Will a vaccination from my home country fulfill Alamo College’s (AC) requirements?
Yes, a vaccination record from a country outside the U.S. will meet the requirements.  If the vaccine given meets the CDC requirements and if the vaccination record is in a language other than English, we will need an English translation of the document.

How far in advance should I plan to arrive in the U.S. in order to receive the vaccine/booster shot?
If you plan to receive the vaccine in the U.S. you should arrive no later than 3 weeks prior to the first day of classes.  This will give you enough time for the 10 day waiting period and time for the college to process your documents. You must receive the vaccination at least 10 days before the first day of classes for the semester.

As an international student, can I present medical documentation from my country in order to get an exemption due to medical reasons?
Unfortunately, the law requires that you visit a doctor in the U.S. to be able to get an exemption for medical reasons.  We suggest that you bring an English translation of your records with you, so that you can present them to a U.S. physician.  Be sure your travel arrangements will give you enough time to see a physician in the U.S. and submit your documentation to the college.

As an international student, how can I get an exemption for reasons of conscience? 
You must follow the same guidelines and procedures outlined for domestic students.  Please visit the Texas Department of State Health Services for more information. (https://webds.dshs.state.tx.us/immco/affidavit.shtm)  

The primary location to submit bacterial meningitis vaccination forms in person at San Antonio College is Admissions and Records, FAC 216.

All Alamo Colleges students may submit complete documentation to the San Antonio College, Nursing Allied Health Complex (NAHC), Room 101.

Monday thru Thursday 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 – 5 p.m

Friday 8 a.m. – Noon

Closed Dec. 19-Jan. 7, 2013