SECTION 21.613. Immunization Requirement

(a) An entering student who has been admitted to an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education, must show evidence of receipt of an initial bacterial meningitis vaccination dose or booster during the five-year period preceding and at least 10 days prior to the first day of the first semester in which the student initially enrolls at an institution, or following a break in enrollment of at least one fall or spring semester at the same or another institution.

(b) Each institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education must designate a department or unit to receive from the student evidence of receipt of an initial bacterial meningitis vaccination dose or booster during the five-year period preceding and at least 10 days prior to the first day of the first semester in which the student initially enrolls at an institution, or following a break in enrollment of at least one fall or spring semester at the same or another institution.

(c) Evidence of the student having received the vaccination from an appropriate health practitioner must be received by the designated department or unit at the institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education. This information shall be maintained in accordance with Family Education Rights and Privacy Act Regulations, and with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

(d) Each institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education must provide to a student, with the registration materials that the institution provides to a student before the student's initial enrollment in the institution, the following:

(1) written or electronic notice of the right of the student or of a parent or guardian of a student, to claim an exemption from the vaccination requirement, as specified in §21.614 of this title (relating to Exceptions); and

(2) written or electronic notice of the importance of consulting a physician about the need for the immunization against bacterial meningitis to prevent the disease.

(e) Under justifiable circumstances, an administrative official of the designated department or unit of an institution of higher education, or private or independent institution of higher education, may grant extensions to individual students to extend the compliance date to no more than 10 days after the first day of the semester or other term in which the student initially enrolls.

Source Note: The provisions of this §21.613 adopted to be effective November 30, 2009, 34 TexReg 8527; amended to be effective November 29, 2011, 36 TexReg 8024