2012 - 2013 Catalog
Important Information You Need to Know about Bacterial Meningitis
Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccination Required - Effective January 1, 2012.
This document is subject to change based on Eastfield College policies and procedures.
Requirements
The Texas Education Code, § 51.9192, subchapter Z, establishes the requirement for bacterial meningitis
vaccination for Eastfield College students under the age of 30 to submit evidence of being immunized against
meningococcal meningitis.
The meningitis vaccination requirement applies to:
- All first time credit students
- All new transfer credit students
- All returning students who have experienced a break in enrollment of at least
one fall or spring semester - New and returning continuing education students enrolled in programs that are at least 360
contact hours or greater - Distance education students who live in Texas (based on actual mailing address. A Post Office
box cannot be used as proof of residency) - Dual Credit, Middle College, Early College, and/or Charter High School students attending classes at Eastfield College
- Continuing Education students enrolled in a concurrent credit course(s)
You must submit proof of meningitis vaccination (or booster within the last five years) to your college's
Admissions Office before registering for class. The date of the vaccination must be at least 10
days before the first day of class. This allows time for the vaccination to take effect.
At least one of the following must be faxed, mailed, e-mailed (with an attached PDF file) or submitted (in
person) to the Admissions Office:
- Certification from a physician or clinic that the student has been vaccinated during the 5-year
period immediately preceding and prior to registration. - An immunization record from a state or local health authority or an official record received from
school officials, including a record from another state (must be within 5 years). - A completed, signed and dated copy of the college's Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Verification Form.
Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations and the Health and Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act.
Important Note: Students who fail to submit required Meningitis Vaccine documentation will be
restricted from registering for classes.
Exceptions
The following conditions exempt a student from being required to submit evidence of receiving the vaccination against bacterial meningitis or evidence of receiving a booster dose:
- Students who are 30 years of age or older by the first day of the start of the semester in which you enroll.
- Distance education students who are not in state or country (based on actual mailing address. A 100% Distance Education Affidavit must be completed and submitted to the Registrar's Office. A
Post Office Box cannot be used as proof of residency). - Students enrolled in a continuing education course or program that is less than 360 contract
hours or in continuing education corporate training. - Students enrolled in a dual credit course which is taught at a public or private K-12 facility not located at Eastfield College.
- Students incarcerated in a Texas prison.
A student, or a parent or guardian of a student, is not required to submit evidence of receiving the
vaccination against bacterial meningitis if the student, or a parent or guardian of a student, submits to
the Admissions/Registrar's Office one of the following:
- An affidavit or certificate signed by a physician who is duly registered and licensed to practice
medicine in the United States, stating in the physician's opinion, the vaccination would be
injurious to the health and well-being of the student; or - An affidavit signed by the student stating that the student declines the vaccination for reasons
of conscience, including a religious belief. A conscientious exemption form from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for students who are 18 years of age or older, or the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for students who are 17 years of age or younger must be used.
brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. The inflammation is usually caused by an
infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is also referred to as
spinal meningitis.
More information about the causes, symptoms, types, risks, and seriousness as well as ways to prevent
meningococcal meningitis are available through the following links:
http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/html/HB04189F.htm
http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhs/immunizationhours.html
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/immtrac/imm_providers.shtm
Exemption Form
Verification Form
Meningitis Vaccine Requirement
100% Distance Education Affidavit
This information is being provided to all 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.
| WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? |
|
|
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.
| HOW IS BACTERIAL MENINGITIS DIAGNOSED? |
- 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.
| HOW IS THE DISEASE TRANSMITTED? |
- 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.
| HOW DO YOU INCREASE YOUR RISK OF GETTING BACTERIAL MENINGITIS? |
- 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).
| WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISEASE? |
- 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, legs) that requires amputation
- Gangrene
- Coma
- Convulsions
| CAN THE DISEASE BE TREATED? |
- 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 29 years of age and younger
- Vaccinations are effective against 4 of the 5 most common bacterial types that cause 70% of the disease in the U.S. (but does not protect against all types of meningitis).
- Vaccinations take 7-10 days to become effective, with protection lasting 3-5 years.
- The cost of 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.
- Vaccination is available at Dallas County Health Department, phone 214-819-2000. For more information, visit the Dallas County Health Department Web site at http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhservices/hhs_intro.html.
| HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION? |
- Contact your own health care provider.
- Contact your Student Health Center at:
Brookhaven
Cedar Valley
Eastfield
El Centro
Mountain View
North Lake
Richland972-860-4195
972-860-8277
972-860-7190
214-860-2113
972-860-8699
972-273-3170
972-238-6135
- Contact your local or regional Texas Department of State Health Services at 817-264-4551. For more information, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services Web page at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/.
- Contact the following Web sites:
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo;
www.acha.org