Starting for the spring semester, new ACC students and returning former ACC students wishing to register for classes must first show proof of meningitis immunization.
A new Texas law mandates bacterial meningitis vaccinations for new college students who are under age 30. The immunization must be administered at least 10 days before the start of the teaching session and must be within the last five years.
The law applies to credit students entering college as of Jan. 1, 2012. Currently enrolled students are exempt from the law unless they leave for a fall or spring semester.
Students who do not wish to be vaccinated can request an exemption from the state. The process must be completed before they can register for classes.
In preparation for the rule, the college is revising the admissions and registration process to include the requirement. We also have developed an immunization information webpage. This will help people understand the new requirement and find out where to get the vaccination.
See the immunization information webpage.
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By monica September 9, 2011 - 12:29 pm
I called wallgreens to find out how much it would cost to get this vaccine and it is $670.00 with out health insurance. Luckily I am already an ACC student but, I dont think they should require something so expensive unless they are going to help pay for it. I know how serious meningitis is but, who can afford a 670 dollar vaccine?
By mreyes September 9, 2011 - 1:18 pm
Monica, thanks for the info. The good news is local health departments will provide the vaccination at a very low cost to individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. Visit the immunization information page for locations and contact information. Also, help spread the word in time for spring registration!
By Nick September 10, 2011 - 2:28 pm
Sounds like another Rick Perry vaccine scam. The price is outrageous and even if they do offer it at a lower price for us uninsured, its still something people can’t afford when youre living on the budget of a student. How serious of a problem is Meningitis in Austin anyways?
By Albert Autin September 11, 2011 - 3:03 pm
Whats the deal with this? I’ve been going to school downtown and talking to hundreds of students for the last 5 years. I don’t even know of anyone with, or who have had, Meningitis in Austin. I do not think this vaccination should be mandated on new students, sounds like another ‘HPV scam’ scenario to me.
By Jabawi Sperill September 12, 2011 - 11:53 am
Sounds like an awesome chance to protest. HAZZAH!!!
By sharky September 12, 2011 - 12:12 pm
I would encourage everyone to request an exemption to this. Mandated vaccines are not required to get an education.
By Dorothy September 12, 2011 - 2:19 pm
Just an FYI (for those in Travis County)…the Health Dept has immunization clinics for $10 for uninsured, underinsured and those on Medicaid…
By cb September 12, 2011 - 6:31 pm
People Who Should Take Meningitis Vaccine
Certain people have been identified by experts, who should take meningitis vaccines. These people who are at a higher risk of meningitis include:
•Adults over the age of 60 years.
•Children under the age group of 5 years.
•Alcoholism also increases the chances of falling prey to meningitis.
•Dairy farmers and ranchers, working with domestic animals, can come in contact with Listeria, a type of bacteria and can be infected with meningitis.
•People undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer are at a higher risk.
•People with sickle cell anemia, diabetes, IV drug users can also be prone to meningitis.
•AIDS, immunosuppressant drugs can make the person susceptible to an infection.
•Spleen plays an important role in maintaining the immunity of the body. If the spleen has been surgically removed, it may increase the chances of meningitis infection.
Possible Side-effects of MCV4 Vaccine
A few side effects are similar to those of Meningococcal polysaccaride vaccine. They include:
•Severe weakness or slight pain in arms and legs, high fever
•Low fever, chills
•The spot where the vaccine was injected may show redness, pain, swelling, or a lump.
•Headache, fatigue and weakness
•Joint pain
•Diarrhea
•Vomiting, loss of appetite.
•Mild skin rash
Both the vaccines sometimes have a deadly allergic reaction like difficulty in breathing, wheezing, hives, pale complexion, dizziness, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat and rapid or irregular heartbeat.
By David September 12, 2011 - 8:26 pm
EVERYONE SHOULD NOT GET THE VACCINE!!!! THE CDC AND OR VACCINE MAKERS ARE EXEMPT FROM ANY RESPONSIBILITY IF VACCINE HARMS YOU. How many ppl do u know who have meningitis? Vaccines should not be required to gain an education. This “law” should be protested against! Whats next if we allow this? Wake up everyone!!! UNITE!!!!
By Denton September 12, 2011 - 10:52 pm
I could not find the law that mandates this or any immunization except up to 12th grade. Please specify the law.
By mreyes September 13, 2011 - 7:18 am
The new law is SB 1107. It’s important to remember that meningitis is a deadly disease, with serious consequences. The Texas Tribune has an interesting feature on how the new law came about.
By Stephanie September 13, 2011 - 1:38 pm
I refuse to get this shot. I am tired of having laws mandate what I choose to put in my body. Anybody know a way to bypass this law.
By A September 13, 2011 - 2:02 pm
Thank you for the bill number/ID.
Let’s just all try to remember that it’s more important for us all to be AFRAID of the disease more than the shot, because we tell you what you need to be afraid of and you comply.
The Texas Tribune has a very droll article, with no features, on how the new law came about. And I would not recommend wasting time reading it.
Thanks to perry, we will be the first state in the country to require every college student to be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis. I can’t wait till that fear mongering hypocrite trips on his lies again, hopefully this time for good.
By Aaron September 13, 2011 - 9:09 pm
From what it looks like, people are being able to just submit a exemption form to bypass this new law. And all those who don’t want it in general should protest this law. Pointless vaccinations was never mandatory of our education. And it never should be.
By Chris M September 14, 2011 - 5:52 pm
You have a MUCH higher chance of obtaining a harmful side effect from the vaccine than you do from actually getting meningitis. Vaccines should not be required for an education, period. Not in ACC, not for pre-schoolers, not ever. Don’t let your constitutional rights be stomped on. Even if you want the vaccine, everyone should exempt themselves from this based on principle alone. Let your voice he heard.
By Katherine September 15, 2011 - 10:43 am
Well, I don’t really have a choice in this matter because my grandmother was made a vegetable by meningitis and my mother basically saw her waste away in a hospital. Now she insists that I get the vaccine. Maybe it’s one of those things that you have to see affect someone before you take the big bad disease seriously. All my grandmother did was get on a bus to visit her family 3 hours away from home to get the disease. However, she was a hardcore alcoholic which probably didn’t help any.
Before you go around yelling about how horrible vaccines are and how the man is just trying to keep us all down, think about how many people would get horrible diseases if your opinion (which is what it is) became a reality. I guess you really want polio to make a nice comeback.
By dionnysus September 16, 2011 - 11:17 am
this is a bit of a over-reach reaction to some poor unfortunates contracting this disease. it seems the greater majority of college students were getting along fine before this. this vaccine MUST be made affordable to everyone required to have it
By Jesse Apanda September 17, 2011 - 3:36 pm
More students have diabetes than meningitis in Texas, why aren’t they forcing measures to guard against the development of that disease on us?
By Yossef September 19, 2011 - 9:03 am
Why is it required for anyone to get an education? If you have been to school in the US then you have to have all these shots just to be in school. My 6 yr old son had to get these dumb shots for what? half this stuff isnt even around anymore! I think this is Perry’s last hoorah!!!! There better be some kind of protest against this…..half the time the vaccines have more of any effect than the dang inflection!
By KF September 19, 2011 - 11:01 am
This is a very serious disease and you should want to be vaccinated from it. You can go to your doctor and get a state vaccine for $14, so it is affordable for everyone. There are no side effects.
By Taylor Hatfield September 19, 2011 - 9:15 pm
This is sick and if anybody believes we have a right to education, think again. I was one of the few students at the capitol opposing this bill in the senate hearings. It’s unconstitutional. If you are a human being this should concern you. There are doctors that won’t even touch these vaccines.
By Taylor Hatfield September 19, 2011 - 9:17 pm
KF…no side effects? What planet are you living on? I’m not aware of any vaccine that has no potential side effects. Are you a doctor? Don’t give medical advice on a public forum if you are not. Thanks
By Chris September 19, 2011 - 10:48 pm
At age 7, I became ill with menigitis. I began throwing up in the play ground and got sent home. A few hours later I lost vision. As I cried to my mother to turn on the light, because it was dark, she rushed me to a clinic. The nurses there suspected meningitis and I was then taken to the Round Rock Hospital. I lasted there for almost 3 weeks. Luckily I was treated on time. I hear not many people survive once they come in contact with menigitis. Those who do live, may not be 100 functuional afterwards. Me, eh, I somewhat there.
Other than that, I have never met another person who has had meningitis. I just hear the stories that some knew someone. I have also always wonder who passed down the mengitis to me. I will mostlikely never know
By jessica September 21, 2011 - 11:56 am
There’s a lot of good discussion on here, but I do want to say that vaccinations aren’t required for anything in Texas. EVERYONE is entitled to an exemption. It’s easy and free. All you have to do is fill out a form, send it in, and they send you back your exemption certification. No big deal. My children aren’t vaccinated and we do this for their school as well. Whether or not to vaccinate is a personal decision that should not be taken lightly, should be researched thoroughly and should be respected by other people once made.
By vanessa September 21, 2011 - 5:57 pm
In not sure which i had, viral or bacterial. All i know is that i had a sever headache for 10 days straight and it got to the point were i started vomiting. I went to one hospital and the told me i had a migraine and gave me some Motrin, and then they sent me home. The next day i started vomiting blood. My mom called an ambulance that took me to another hospital were the instantly did a spinal tap. Needless to say that a had meningitis. The kept me over night and gave me antibiotics and morphine. Not a very pleasant experience. The only result of this i can say i have is constant headaches, pretty much every other day, that I’m still trying to get help for.
By Jeannie September 22, 2011 - 9:42 am
My daughter had meningitis as an infant. It is a horrifying disease. She survived, but spent two weeks in ICU. We were told to call in the family because the medical professionals thought they were losing her. Her fingers turned black. She developed horrible bruising under her skin. She still has scars on her legs from the septicemia. If you want to know what it can do to you, google images: “meningitis septicemia.” Parents pushed this law through. As a parent, I understand why.
By AL September 22, 2011 - 11:43 am
If you’ve ever had to watch your 4 yr old child in the hospital because they thought he had this horrible disease…you’d do it without a doubt…and my child didn’t even have it but because of related symptoms that sounded like meningitis they treated it like it was…and watching and holding a 4 yr old while they perform a spinal tap…that’s the hardest thing for a parent to do…so if I’m being impartial and thinking that yes…it should be a preventative measure for anyone who’s directly in contact with others from all walks of life…then I’m for it!!
By jennifer September 22, 2011 - 3:29 pm
does anyone know where you can get public notary at? I don’t plan on getting the vaccine but it’s required that we get it notarized… thanks
By Angela September 27, 2011 - 7:42 am
“half this stuff isnt even around anymore!”
Hey, Yossef. Half of this stuff isn’t even around anymore (in America, at least.) because the vaccines that protect against it were successful. Unfortunately, polio (just one example) is still a problem in other parts of the world, and all it takes to start another epidemic here is one person bringing it back to a underimmunized community here in the US.
By Susan Nichols/FBG September 27, 2011 - 12:50 pm
Years ago ,when I was in college, my roommate at TCU thought she had the flu.
She went to the doctor and was told to take aspirin and go home and call in the morning. The next afternoon she died.
This is not a disease to take a risk with. Kathy was a very smart, beautiful young women and still missed after 40 years!
By Al September 27, 2011 - 4:07 pm
oooh geez, grow an immunity system.
By Angela September 27, 2011 - 4:58 pm
Hmm, another mandatory vaccine? Just another way for a new line of diseases to be born, with us as the guinea pigs. It’s the time of change. Mandatory everythings…..did you know that in about 5 years, satellite radio will be mandatory to listen to your car radio? To watch TV now, we have to buy HD or get an HD box. To attend schools, you have to get mandatory vaccines. What about Prick Perry’s mandatory HPV vaccine? That ended up giving young girls cancer, hair loss, tumors, and cysts? I say no to Perry and his money making ideas. Say no to vaccines & no to Perry
By Jackie September 29, 2011 - 11:01 pm
To anyone out there who thinks it’s a bad idea to get vaccinated against meningitis or any other disease, if you experience meningitis or any other disease it will make you think twice. Earlier this year I contracted meningitis and it was the most excruciating pain I have ever felt and the most horrifying experience I ever had. I thought I was going to die. I survived and I am fully functional today. Thank you Jesus. Regardless of whether or not meningitis is common in Austin or not, why take the chance? If you can get vaccinated against a disease that can kill you, then why not do it?
By Demi October 4, 2011 - 7:06 pm
Well, All I have to say is menigitis did not pop out of just no where, Of course it was man made. (Bio-War) so they made this disease…know there using us as test dummies…to see if there vaccine will be a miracle….Of course everyone has there opinion, I have mines….When it comes down to it in about 30 plus years everyone who had taken the vaccine some how will develop some kind of new brain cancer….then it will be a vaccine for that disease. I’m a Godly person I use him for my battles..when its my time its my time… Real Talk. By the way I dont think it should be mandatory due to everyones believes.
By Chris October 5, 2011 - 12:56 am
This disease is still around and very serious. The vaccine will pervent you from getting it in the future(for 5yrs). Viral meningitis is not as severe. Bacterial Meningitis may result in brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disabilities. The vaccine has reduced the number of related meningitis cases as well as the HIB infection which is the leading cause for bacterial meningitis. For must of you students that think this Law is crazy or a waste of time your seriously wrong and need to do some research on this disease. Alot of people are ignorant and may think “This will never happen to me”, But do you really know if it will happen to you or not? NO because these kind of things can happen to anyone. This is something that you need to take serious it can be deadly if not caught in time. Be smart get your vaccine. Also you must have it by LAW. Here is a link that takes you directly to the Central for Disease Control website. (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/faq.html
By Scoob October 6, 2011 - 1:15 am
NOTICE TO: PEOPLE WHO DON’T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO BE INJECTED WITH ANY FLUIDS UNLESS DESIRED:The moderator of this board will not allow any protest/organization cause or link to occur on this page.
Also, most contrary opinions that are posted here will be deleted as to keep a good public image. (I have been following every post via email notification and I can forward them to you)
If the moderator deletes THIS comment, which does not incite any organizing, I will either:
a)alter my message to technically adhere to whatever anti-freedom of speech policy the college has you slave sheeple enforce
-or- if there is no policy that can be referenced
b)re-post it with breakneck speed
So yeah, just so you know, this is a completely biased forum string that is almost pointless to participate in.
Sincerely,
A person who doesn’t believe in censorship OR burning of books,
Scoob
By Tim October 6, 2011 - 1:18 pm
To everyone who has said this is unconstitutional
Article 1 Section 4
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States.
General welfare clause grants congress the power to make laws that they (as representatives of the people) feel provide for the overall well being of the people of the united states.
By austin October 18, 2011 - 10:49 am
For those who think a madatory vaccine is needed: if the vaccine is so important, then why are only new students targeted to get the vaccine? Why not have everyone, including the faculty and staff get the vaccine? I’m sure meningitis has always been serious and life threatening, so why is the vaccine required now? Why not years ago? If you are going to take mostly online classes, then why do you still have to have the vaccine? For those who think that it is constitutional based on Article 1 section 4, I’m pretty sure that is talking about establishing a police, militia, army, ect, to protect citizens. It’s not talking about protection from bacteria/ viruses. If that was so, then the vaccine would have been required years ago.