Immunization and Medical Clearance Requirements for U.S. Citizens and/or Permanent Residents

Immunization Requirements

Requirement #1 – Bacterial Meningitis Vaccine

• Texas law (SB 1107) mandates that all entering UT students who will be 21 or younger on the first day of classes must receive the bacterial meningitis vaccine.
• Only a quadrivalent vaccine or pentavalent vaccine meets the requirement.
• Meningitis B vaccines do not meet the requirement.
• The vaccine must be administered within five years of, and no later than ten days before, the first day of classes for the semester a student enters UT Austin.

Requirement #2 – Evidence of Measles Immunity

Evidence of measles immunity can include ANY of the following (#1, #2 OR #3):

A vaccine record containing any of the dosages listed below with the FIRST DOSE administered ON or AFTER 12 months of age and the SECOND dose administered at least 28 days after the first dose.

A positive blood test (titer)

• A Rubeola IgG blood test with an official lab report showing:
• The student’s full name, the antibody levels, and the interpretation that the antibody levels indicate immunity (POSITIVE).

*Not acceptable: A healthcare provider’s statement that a lab was positive or antibody present.

Birth before 1957

What Documentation Do I Need to Provide?

The two types of documentation listed below (#1, #2) are acceptable to fulfill the immunization and medical clearance requirements. You may provide EITHER, and submitting them in English is preferred.

Vaccine records that must include:

• Your full name.
• The vaccine name or vaccine abbreviation.
• The day, month, and year the vaccine was given.

The record must be obtained from one of the following:

• A state or local health authority.
• A school that you previously attended.
• Your healthcare provider.
• A pharmacy note that includes your name, the vaccine name or vaccine abbreviation and the day, month, and year the vaccine was given to prove the pharmacist administered the vaccine. We recommend taking the “UHS- Documentation of Vaccines Received at a Pharmacy” Form to the pharmacy where you will receive the vaccine and having the pharmacist complete the form to ensure the documentation meets medical clearance criteria.

Laboratory reports that must include:

• Your full name.
• The antibody levels.
• The interpretation of the test.

Unacceptable Documentation:

• Pharmacy receipts and prescription labels, even if they show the patient and vaccine name.
• A healthcare provider’s statement that a lab was negative or positive.

Exemptions from Medical Clearance Requirements and Required Documentation

You are strongly encouraged to consult with a physician about the need for these vaccines before requesting an exemption.

Ways to be exempt can include any of the following

• You are enrolled in a fully online degree program.
• You are unable to receive the vaccines because of medical reasons.
• You are declining to receive the vaccines due to conscience, including a religious belief.

Forms to Be Used for Exemption

How to Complete and Submit the Exemption Forms

For these forms:

• UHS/AIT Measles Medical Exemption Form
• UHS/AIT Bacterial Meningitis Medical Exemption Form

All must be signed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the U.S. stating that, in the physician's opinion, getting a specific vaccine or vaccines would injure your health and well-being. After completion, the form can be submitted in the same way as the vaccine records (see below).

For this form:

• Texas Department of State Health Services Exemption from Immunizations for Reasons of Conscience Affidavit

Texas law requires a notarized, ORIGINAL Texas Department of State Health Services Exemption from Immunizations for Reasons of Conscience Affidavit as the sole method for documenting an exemption to meningococcal vaccine requirements for reasons of conscience.

1. Request this form at co-request.dshs.texas.gov well before your registration date.
2. DSHS will print the form on special paper and mail it to addresses within the United States only.
3. After you receive the form in the mail, the form must then be notarized by a State of Texas Notary Public.
4. Texas Notary Publics have various acceptable Remote Online Notarization (RON) processes. When an online Texas notary is utilized, the notary form needs to be attached to the original affidavit form when submitted to UHS.
5. UHS cannot accept the Texas DSHS affidavit form if it is received more than 90 days after the date it was notarized.
6. Next, the notarized ORIGINAL affidavit form must be sent to UHS by U.S. mail or another shipping service or by hand delivery. Emails, faxes, and copies of this form cannot be accepted.

Mail or hand deliver your notarized official affidavit to:

ATTN: Immunization Compliance
The University of Texas at Austin
University Health Services
100 West Dean Keeton Street, STOP A3900
Austin, TX 78712-1107

How to Submit Your Documentation to UHS

Keep a copy of the medical clearance requirement related documentation submitted to UHS to use as a backup in case there are issues with submission. Also, do not submit your documentation by more than one method. This will not shorten the processing time.

How to Determine Whether Your Documentation Has Been Processed and Your Registration Hold Has Been Removed

• Login to your Registration Information Sheet (RIS), scroll to Registration Holds to see whether you have a medical (or ‘H’) hold. This hold will be removed when your documentation is processed.
• If it has been more than six weeks since you submitted documentation, and you have not received a secure message indicating a deficiency, email imm@uhs.utexas.edu.

Where to Get Your Vaccines to Satisfy Medical Clearance Requirements

University Health Services

Admitted students can call 512-475-8301, option #2 (Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) to schedule an appointment.

Health insurance is not required to use UHS, however UHS accepts most major U.S. insurance plans including the student health insurance plan, AcademicBlue. View information on the Healthyhorns Billing Office.

The vaccines are covered by the student health insurance plan, AcademicBlue.

Additional Vaccine Resources

• Most doctor’s offices and private clinics
• Many large pharmacy chains
• Some minor emergency centers or walk-in clinics
• If you have Medicaid or CHIP, contact your established healthcare provider as your first option.

If you are Uninsured or your Insurance will not Cover Vaccines

• Those 18 or younger might qualify for the Texas Vaccines for Children Program. Call the United Way helpline (dial 211) to find a participating healthcare provider in your area.
• Also, many full-service, city/county health departments in Texas offer free or low-cost vaccines through programs for those 18 or younger and certain vaccines for those over 18.
  • Texas Local Public Health Organizations
  • Austintexas.gov – Immunizations

Questions

For questions regarding immunizations, medical clearance requirements and medical holds, call the UHS Allergy, Immunization, and Travel Health Clinic at 512-475-8301 or email imm@uhs.utexas.edu. In your email, provide your UT EID. Be as detailed as possible about your question or circumstance.

Business Hours
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
1st and 2nd Wednesdays of the month, Closed from noon-1:30 p.m.