West Texas A&M University highly recommends that all students be up to date on their immunizations. Texas Law requires all students (under age 22) 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. Student Medical Services offers the Meningitis - Menactra vaccine, Hepatitis A vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccine, Influenza vaccine and the Tetanus and Pertussis vaccine at a discounted rate to students.
Meningitis Vaccine
Texas law 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. This law also requires that the meningitis vaccination occurs within a five-year period before the student arrives at school. This applies to all new incoming students, under the age of 22, that sits out a long semester.
The meningitis vaccine is available during the NSO's.
West Texas A&M University does not require students to show proof of any other immunization to attend the University. However, the staff of Student Medical Services strongly recommends that all students be current on certain immunizations.
Forms for Meningitis Vaccine Documentation
Please go to the following web page to download any forms regarding the required meningitis vaccine to submit or upload to the student's portal. www.wtamu.edu/meningitis
What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection that can affect either the brain or spinal cord or infect the blood. Permanent brain damage, hearing loss, kidney failure or death can result from this infection. Certain groups of people are most at risk for this infection. College freshmen who live in residence halls are one of the susceptible groups.
The bacteria are spread through direct contact and through air droplets. Symptoms of the disease are often mistaken for the flu - high fever, rash, neck stiffness, headache, nausea and vomiting. There is a vaccine available which is 80% effective at preventing the 4 types of bacteria that cause 70% of the disease in the U.S. Immunity develops within 7-10 days of receiving the vaccine and is effective for 3-5 years.
Where can I get the meningitis vaccine?
If you are a currently enrolled student for the current semester, are attending a WTAMU New Student Orientation, or have registered for the upcoming semester, you can purchase and receive the vaccine through West Texas A&M Student Medical Services located on campus in VHAC 104. Call (806) 651-3287 for availability of supply, vaccine administration times and qualification requirements for student enrollment.
If you are not a current student or have not registered as a student at West Texas A&M University, you can check with your primary care provider or many of the local pharmacies in your area.
Be sure to bring your Buffalo Gold Card and your insurance card with you to your appointment! You will be carded when you enter the building. There will be a charge for the vaccine. If you would like to file an insurance claim for the vaccine, please provide your insurance information.
Which Meningitis vaccine should I get?
There are new vaccines for meningitis that protects against meningococcal serogroup B. Are new students enrolling at institutions of higher education required to have it in order to start classes?
The language used to discuss the meningitis college entry requirement in Sec. 51.9192 of the Education Code and §21.613 of the TAC states that students must receive a "bacterial meningitis vaccination." At the time that the rule and statute took effect, only two types of bacterial meningitis vaccines were available to students: meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) and meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4). MenACWY is the preferred vaccine for people 55 years of age and younger, however they both protect against the same four strains of bacterial meningitis (A, C, W and Y).
More recently, two vaccines have become available that offer protection from meningococcal serogroup B. Although several small MenB outbreaks have occurred on college campuses since 2013, college students in general are not at higher risk of MenB than persons of the same age who are not college students.
Consequently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) does not routinely recommend MenB vaccination for college students. However, college students may choose to receive MenB vaccine to reduce their risk of serogroup B meningococcal disease. Students should consult a physician to discuss risks. However, it should be noted that vaccination with the MenB vaccine should not replace routine vaccination with MenACWY vaccines.
What if I do not want to get the vaccination?
Evidence to Decline Vaccination must be submitted in one of the following formats:
- 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. Or submission of the completed Meningitis Medical Exemption Form
- An affidavit signed by the student stating that the student declines the vaccination for bacterial meningitis for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief.
- Students living on campus: A conscientious exemption form from the Texas Department of State Health Services must be used and can be requested here - Affidavit Request for Exemption from Immunizations for Reasons of Conscience. Please allow several weeks for delivery.
- Students NOT living on campus: May complete the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Affidavit and submit the original notarized document to the Office of Admissions. NOTE: Students must be 18 years of age or older to submit this form. Students under the age of 18 must use the affidavit above.
- Students who intend to enroll in Distance Education courses (or online only) must submit the petition for a waiver available here - Petition to Waive Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Requirement for ALL Online.
Where can I obtain these forms?
What do I do with my vaccination information or affidavit?
Please upload your immunization information in the Buff Portal or submit a copy of your vaccination record or use the Evidence of Vaccination Against Meningitis Form - to:
Office of Admissions
WTAMU Box 60907
Canyon, TX
79016-0001
What information do I need to include?
Please include your complete name, WTAMU Buffalo Gold Card number (if you know it) date of birth and a contact telephone number on all documentation. Make sure it is legible and always keep a copy for yourself.
Recommended Immunizations:
Influenza Vaccine - 1 does annually.
Hepatitis A
Recommended for all college students. Hepatitis A is transmitted through the fecal-oral route., series of two vaccines.
Hepatitis B
Recommended for all students, required for several majors (nursing, communication disorders, athletic training). Series of 3 immunizations administered over a 6-month period. Hepatitis B is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. You can become infected directly through blood or body fluids, or indirectly through contact with surfaces or objects that are contaminated with the virus, series of three vaccines.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (Gardasil)
Gardasil is a preventive vaccine against HPV subtypes 6, 11, 16, and 18 which are linked to cervical cancer and genital warts. SMS does not carry this vaccine.
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
Most commonly children receive MMR (Measles, Mumps Rubella) as one immunization. If MMR was received must have had 2 doses, at least 30 days apart, after age 1. (Not available at SMS).
Meningitis (Bacterial) - REQUIRED
Meningitis is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection that can affect either the brain or spinal cord or infect the blood. Permanent brain damage, hearing loss, kidney failure or death can result from this infection. Certain groups of people are most at risk for this infection. College freshmen who live in residence halls are one of the susceptible groups.
The bacteria are spread through direct contact and through air droplets. Symptoms of the disease are often mistaken for the flu - high fever, rash, neck stiffness, headache, nausea and vomiting. There is a vaccine available which is 80% effective at preventing the 4 types of bacteria that cause 70% of the disease in the U.S. Immunity develops within 7-10 days of receiving the vaccine and is effective for 3-5 years.
Polio (IPV)
3-4 doses in early childhood. (Not available at SMS)
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)
One dose within the last 10 years. Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis are serious, sometimes fatal, diseases.
Varicella (Chickenpox)
2 doses, one month apart only for students with no history of chickenpox. (Not available at SMS. SMS can do a varicella lab test to check for immunity to varicella.)
Updated 3/31/2023