Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Requirement

Your Health is a Priority

East Texas A&M is partnering with Magnus Health for the submission of bacterial meningitis vaccination records.

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.

Once you've been admitted, accept the invitation sent to your application email from Magnus Health in order to complete and submit your bacterial meningitis vaccination record.

Learn more about bacterial meningitis.

Submitting Your Records

Follow instructions from your emailed invitation to activate the Magnus Health account. You should not attempt to register with Magnus Health as a East Texas A&M University student before you are admitted and received the invitation email to activate your account.

  • After admitted, you will receive an email from [email protected] inviting you to create your password for your account.

  • You will log into the Magnus Health Portal with your username and password to access your Magnus Health account.

  • Upload a copy of your proof of vaccination. All documents must be complete with name, date of birth, shot administered and date of vaccination. These must be legible in order to be verified.
  • You will receive an email confirmation once the forms have been reviewed.

  • Evidence of Vaccination must verify that the vaccination was received during the five-year period prior to and no later than 10 days before the first day of the semester.
  • Evidence of Vaccination must be submitted through Magnus Health.

Vaccination Dates

  • Entering Fall 2024 – vaccination must be on or after 8/16/2019
  • Entering Spring 2025 – vaccination must be on or after 1/11/2019
  • Entering Summer I 2025 – vaccination must be on or after 5/24/2019
  • Entering Summer II 2025 – vaccination must be on or after 6/28/2019

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.

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

Exposure to saliva by sharing cigarettes, water bottles, eating utensils, food, kissing etc.

Living in close conditions (such as sharing a room/suite in a dorm or group home)

  • Death (in 8 to 24 hours from perfectly well to dead)
  • Permanent brain damage
  • Kidney failure
  • Learning disability
  • Hearing loss, blindness
  • Limb damage (fingers, toes, arms and/or legs) that requires amputation
  • Gangrene
  • Coma
  • Convulsions

  • Antibiotic treatment, if received early, can save lives and chances of recovery are increased. However, permanent disability or death can still occur.
  • Vaccinations are available and should be considered for:
    • Those living in close quarters
    • College students 25 years old or younger
  • Vaccinations are effective against four of the five most common bacterial types that cause 70% of the disease in the U.S. (but do not protect against all types of meningitis).
  • Vaccinations take 7-10 days to become effective, with protection lasting 3-5 years.
  • The cost of the vaccine varies, so check with your health care provider.
  • Vaccination is very safe — most common side effects are redness and minor pain at injection site for up to two days.

  • Contact your local health care provider.
  • Contact your local or regional Texas Department of Health office at 214.819.2000.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

  • You should not attempt to register with Magnus Health as a East Texas A&M University student before you are admitted.
  • 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.

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 intend to enroll in Distance Education (online) Courses ONLY and NOT living on-campus..
  • 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.
    • 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. THE ORIGINAL NOTARIZED FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED TO MAGNUS HEALTH BY MAIL.

      514 Daniels Street #367
      Raleigh, NC 27605

      No fax or uploaded affidavit for exemption from immunizations for reason of conscience will be accepted.

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