Is It Mandatory To Get The Meningitis Vaccine

Students’ Meningitis Shots Should Be Required

Which is scarier to you coming down with deadly bacterial meningitis or being required to get a vaccination against it? The disease itself should scare the living daylights out of you, especially if you are an adolescent or the parent of one. Yet it is the idea of mandatory vaccination that strikes fear in many.

We need to get our priorities straight when it comes to mandating or requiring vaccines. When there is a fatal disease that is easily prevented by a safe vaccine, the shot ought to win out every time over our dislike of being told what to do.

Bacterial meningitis, an infection of the fluid in the spinal cord or the tissues that surround the brain, can kill within hours. One in 10 victims dies and up to 20 percent of those who survive suffer hearing loss, deafness, brain damage, amputations or other serious complications. Around 3,000 people a year get the disease and it can kill within hours. Almost all of that is preventable with a vaccine.

Teens and young adults ages 15 to 24 are at especially high risk for bacterial meningitis since it can be spread by coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing drinking glasses and other behaviors where people are in very close contact. College students are particularly at risk since they live in tight quarters and often have weakened immune systems due to lack of sleep.

23 states require shotsToday, 23 states mandate the vaccine for college freshmen.

For Conscience Or Religious Belief

For your child to be exempted due to conscience or religious belief, you must contact your local public health unit:

• Let your local public health unit know you wish to have your child exempted from the required vaccines.
• The PHU will:
• advise you on the steps to take in completing a valid exemption, including watching the vaccine education video.

Once its complete, you must get it signed by a commissioner for taking affidavits in Ontario.

Make copies of your:

• signed Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form

You will need to submit the original versions.

It is important that you keep your copies because the ministry and local public health units do not keep records of your exemption documents.

Submit the original copies of your Vaccine Education Certificate and signed Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form to your local public health unit. Contact them to find out how.

What Do I Need To Know About Meningitis Vaccines

There are a number of safe, effective vaccines that prevent meningococcal meningitis. The vaccines may cause mild and infrequent side effects, such as redness and pain at the injection site lasting up to two days. The meningitis vaccines are 85 to 100 percent effective in preventing the four kinds of meningococcus germ . These four types cause about 70 percent of the disease in the United States. A newer vaccine protects against type B, which accounts for about one-third of cases in adolescents, and the CDC recently recommended that clinicians may choose to administer vaccine against serogroup B to persons between the ages of 16-23. This vaccine is also recommended for those 10 years of age and older with certain health conditions. For more information regarding Meningitis B vaccine recommendations, heck out the CDCs vaccine information statement.

While meningitis vaccines are effective against many types of meningococcal disease, they are not 100% effective against all types, and they do not prevent all cases of meningococcal disease.

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Are Students Required To Get Meningococcal Vaccine Before College

Yes. Massachusetts law requires the following students receive quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine :

• Secondary School : newly enrolled full-time students who will be living in a dormitory or other congregate housing licensed or approved by the secondary school must provide documentation of having received a dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine at any time in the past.
• Postsecondary Institutions : newly enrolled full-time students 21 years of age and younger must provide documentation of having received a dose of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine on or after their 16th birthday, regardless of housing status.

Immunizations should be obtained prior to enrollment or registration however, students may be enrolled or registered provided that the required immunizations are obtained within 30 days of registration. There is no requirement for meningococcal B vaccination. However, adolescents and young adults may also be vaccinated with a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine, preferably at 16 through 18 years of age, to provide short term protection for most strains of serogroup B meningococcal disease.

More information about requirements and exemptions may be found in the MDPH document Information about Meningococcal Disease, Meningococcal Vaccines, Vaccination Requirements and the Waiver for Students at Colleges and Residential Schools.

Are Both Meningococcal Vaccines Equally Effective

The MCV4, MPSV4 and MenB vaccines are about 85-90% effective in preventing meningococcal disease. There are actually several types of N meningitidis — the bacterium that causes meningococcal disease, five of which are common in the U.S. These vaccines together protect against all five of these strains.

MCV4 has not been available long enough to compare the long-term effectiveness of the two vaccines. But most experts think that MCV4 provides better, longer-lasting protection.

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Who Should Receive A Meningitis Vaccine

Meningitis vaccination is recommended for individuals over 11-years-old. This includes both the A, C, W and Y immunization and the B vaccination.

Travellers or others who could be exposed to meningitis should also be vaccinated this includes:

• Travellers to the meningitis belt in Africa
• Travellers going to Hajj in Saudi Arabia
• Individuals who work in confined conditions
• Healthcare workers
• College or other students

If you have not been vaccinated, or are unsure of your vaccination history, Passport Health can help. We keep meningitis vaccinations in-stock and ready for your trip or need. Call to schedule your appointment or book online now.

You Are Pregnant Or Breastfeeding

• Pregnant women who are at increased risk for serogroup A, C, W, or Y meningococcal disease may get MenACWY vaccines.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women who are at increased risk for serogroup B meningococcal disease may get MenB vaccines. However, they should talk with a doctor to decide if the benefits of getting the vaccine outweigh the risks.

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What Are The New York State School Requirements For Meningitis Vaccines

Starting with the 2016-17 school year, New York State students entering grades seven and twelve will be required to have been administered adequate doses of the meningococcal meningitis vaccine for school entry. All New York state requirements related to school entry will apply. Learn more about New York States current immunization requirements for school entry.

Requesting An Exemption For Medical Reasons Or Reasons Of Conscience

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, or for reasons of conscience.

Do not submit any exemption document to Undergraduate Admissions or the Student Health Center.

Texas State uses Magnus Health SMR for managing compliance with the meningitis requirement. Students subject to the bacterial meningitis requirement will receive an email from Magnus Health SMR with instructions. Students will be charged $10 by Magnus Health SMR for processing all exemption documents and verifying compliance with the requirement.

An exemption to the vaccination requirement may be requested by providing one of the following documents:

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Children In Licensed Daycare Centres

If you want your child to attend daycare, and decide not to vaccinate them due to medical, religious or philosophical reasons, you will need to give your daycare a valid written exemption. If the disease appears in your childs daycare centre, your child may have to stay out of daycare until the disease is no longer present.

Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Requirement

Texas law requires all college students under the age of 22 to be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis or provide an exemption request declining the vaccine. Senate Bill 1107 amends the Texas law, requiring proof of vaccination at least 10 days prior to attending class. Class registration is blocked for LSC students until compliance with the bacterial meningitis vaccination requirement is documented as complete.

Refer to the bacterial meningitis vaccination compliance website for more information on submitting your documentation.

Proof of compliance is REQUIRED if any of the following apply:

• You are enrolling in college for the first time as a credit student.
• You are returning to college after a break in enrollment.
• You are transferring to LSC from another college or university.
• You are an early college, dual credit or other exceptional admissions student enrolled in classes on a Lone Star College campus.
• You are a non-credit Career & Continuing Education student also enrolled in credit classes.

You are EXEMPT from the requirement if any of the following apply:

• You are 22 years of age or older.
• You are enrolled in a non-credit CTE course or program that is less than 360 contact hours and are not taking any credit classes.
• You are enrolled in non-credit corporate training.
• You are enrolled in 100% online or distance education courses.
• You are a dual credit student taking courses taught at a public or private K-12 facility that is not located on a college campus.

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What Is Acceptable Evidence Of Vaccination

Documentation must be in English, state the name and other information sufficient to identify the individual who received the required vaccination, state the month, date and year the vaccine was administered.

Simultaneous Administration With Other Vaccines

Men-C-C and 4CMenB vaccine may be administered concomitantly with routine childhood vaccines, and Men-C-ACYW vaccine may be administered concomitantly with adolescent and adult age appropriate vaccines. MenB-fHBP can be given concomitantly with quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine meningococcal serogroup A, C, Y, W conjugate vaccine and tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed. The concomitant administration of MenB-fHBP has not been studied with other vaccines.

Men-C-ACYW-CRM can be administered with routine paediatric vaccines however, further studies are needed with regard to concomitant administration with pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine. Co-administration of Men-C-ACYW-CRM and combined tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine may result in a lower immune response to the pertussis antigens than when Tdap vaccine is given alone however, the clinical significance of this is unknown. Tdap vaccine given one month after Men-C-ACYW-CRM induces the strongest immunologic response to pertussis antigens.

If vaccines are to be administered concomitantly with another vaccine, a separate injection site and a different syringe must be used for each injection.

Refer to Timing of Vaccine Administration in Part 1 for additional general information.

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How To Determine Whether Your Documentation Has Been Processed And Your Registration Bar Has Been Removed

Log in to your Registration Information Sheet . Scroll to Registration Bars to see whether you have a medical bar. This bar will go away when your documentation has been processed.

IF YOUR MEDICAL BAR IS STILL THERE:

• Your documentation may not have been processed if it has been less than two weeks since you submitted it.
• There could be a problem with your documentation.
• If so, UHS will send you an email from .
• Search inboxes and junk/spam boxes for in the email account from which you sent your documents. If sent by paper, fax or regular mail, search the email listed as your official UT email address.

Who Should Get Meningococcal Vaccines

CDC recommends meningococcal vaccination for all preteens and teens. In certain situations, CDC also recommends other children and adults get meningococcal vaccines. Below is more information about which meningococcal vaccines, including booster shots, CDC recommends for people by age.

Talk to your or your childs doctor about what is best for your specific situation.

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How Is Meningococcal Disease Spread And Who Is Most At Risk

Meningococcal disease is not as contagious as other illnesses, such as a cold or the flu. But it is spread by contact with infected respiratory and throat secretions. That can happen with coughing, kissing, or sneezing.

Because the risk increases with close or prolonged contact with an infected person, family members in the same household and caregivers are at an increased risk. For the same reason, so are college students who live in dormitories.

What Are The Symptoms Of Meningitis

Symptoms of meningococcal disease can include abrupt onset of high fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting and a rash. Symptoms most often appear within five days of exposure, but can appear between two to 10 days. Meningococcal disease is a very serious disease and can be fatal, in spite of treatment. Death can occur within a few hours after the onset of symptoms. Survivors often have loss of arms and legs, hearing loss, kidney failure, permanent brain damage or chronic nervous system problems. If you think you or your infant or child has any of these symptoms, call the doctor right away. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important.

To learn more about how meningitis is spread, symptoms, treatment and what to do if you think youve been exposed, check out the New York State Department of Health Fact Sheet on Meningococcal Disease.

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Problems That Could Happen After Getting Any Injected Vaccine

• People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries caused by a fall. Tell the provider if you or your child feel dizzy, have vision changes, or have ringing in the ears.
• As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.

Medical Clearance Requirement Quick Reference Chart

Medical clearance requirements depend upon your age and classification as an international student or U.S. citizen .

You cannot register for classes, even during your assigned time at a virtual/online or in-person orientation session, until University Health Services receives and processes documentation showing you have met all applicable Medical Clearance Requirements.

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Healthy Infants And Children

One dose of Men-C-C vaccine is recommended in unimmunized children less than 5 years of age. One dose of Men-C-C vaccine may be considered for children 5 to 11 years of age if they have not previously been immunized as infants or toddlers. Immunization with 4CMenB vaccine or MenB-fHBP may be considered on an individual basis, depending on individual preferences, regional serogroup B epidemiology and strain susceptibility.

School Starts Soonis Your Child Fully Vaccinated

Make sure your children are up to date on their vaccines before sending them back to school.

School-age children from preschoolers to college students need vaccines. Getting your child all their vaccinations on time is one of the most important things you can do as a parent to ensure your childrens long-term healthas well as the health of friends, classmates, and others in your community.

The Georgia Immunization Program hasonline resources and tools to help you make sure your kids are up to date on recommended vaccines and protected from serious diseases. Use the childhood vaccine quiz to see what vaccines your child needs, at any age. If you find out your child needs any vaccines to protect them against any of the 16 serious diseases, schedule a visit with your doctor to get caught up.

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Attention Students Registering For Spring 2022

Freshman, transfer and readmitted students entering spring 2022 MUST COMPLY with all applicable medical clearance requirements , even if they will take only online classes due to COVID-19 restrictions. They cannot register for classes until they satisfy these requirements.

Click the category in the chart below that pertains to you to find details about acceptable evidence of compliance for each requirement and how to submit documentation.

Please allow 7 to 10 business days for UHS to process your records and remove your medical bar.

Medical clearance requirements apply to entering students, which include:

• First-time UT Austin students
• Students transferring from any institution of higher education to UT Austin
• Students who are re-enrolling at UT Austin following a break in enrollment of at least one fall or spring semester. Students who complete a spring semester at UT Austin, are not enrolled for the summer at UT Austin, and who return in the fall are considered “continuing students.

What Is The Meningitis Vaccine

Do you need a meningitis vaccine?

Schedule an appointment with your local Passport Health Travel Medicine Specialist

There are two types of meningitis vaccinations available in Canada. One protects against A, C, W and Y strains, the other against B strains.

Meningitis B vaccination is recommended for youth age 16 to 23. It provides short term protection against infection. It is also recommended as a routine vaccination for some individuals over the age of 10 if: there has been an outbreak of meningitis B, they have a damaged or removed spleen, certain immune conditions among other similar indications.

Immunization against meningitis A, C, W and Y is recommended or required for most preteens.

Both of these vaccinations are relatively new. Many individuals over the age of 30 may not have been vaccinated.

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