In Texas, students entering higher education institutions are generally required to receive the bacterial meningitis vaccine. However, Texas law provides an exemption for students who decline immunization for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. The Texas Department of State Health Services, a key part of Texas Human Services, oversees the process for obtaining a conscientious exemption affidavit. This document allows students to attend college without the mandatory vaccination. This guide outlines how to request this affidavit, ensuring you understand the process whether you’re attending a community college, junior college, or another institution of higher education in Texas.
Affidavit for Community and Public Junior Colleges
For students enrolled in a community college or public junior college in Texas, requesting a conscientious exemption affidavit is a straightforward online process. You can directly generate and print your affidavit through the Meningococcal Vaccination Exemption Website. This dedicated online portal simplifies the process for these institutions, making it easily accessible for students to fulfill their requirements related to texas human services and health regulations.
Requesting an Affidavit for Other Higher Education Institutions
If you are attending a university or other institution of higher education that is not a community or junior college, the process to request a conscientious exemption affidavit is slightly different. To obtain the required affidavit form, you must submit a formal request to the Texas Department of State Health Services. This request can be made through various methods, including online submission, mail, fax, or hand-delivery, reflecting the accessible texas human services approach of the department.
Your request must include specific information to be processed efficiently. Ensure you provide the following details:
- Full Name of Child or Student: Provide the complete legal name of the student requiring the exemption.
- Child’s or Student’s Date of Birth: Include the date of birth (month/day/year) for proper identification.
- Complete Mailing Address, Including Telephone Number: Provide a valid mailing address and phone number for communication and delivery of the affidavit.
- Number of Requested Affidavit Forms: Specify the number of affidavit forms you require, with a limit of up to five forms per request.
Once your request is received with all necessary information, the Texas Department of State Health Services will process it and mail the affidavit form to you within one week. You will be contacted if any additional information is needed to complete your request, demonstrating the department’s commitment to efficient texas human services.
Methods to Submit Your Affidavit Request
The Texas Department of State Health Services offers multiple convenient methods to submit your request for a conscientious exemption affidavit:
Online Request:
The quickest method is to use the Immunization Section’s Affidavit Request website. This online portal allows for immediate submission and efficient processing, aligning with modern texas human services delivery.
Request by Mail:
You can send a written request via mail through the United States Postal Service or other commercial carriers to the following address:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Immunization Section, Mail Code 1946
P.O. Box 149347
Austin, Texas 78714-9347
Request by Fax:
Written requests can also be faxed to the Immunization Section at 512-776-7544.
In-Person Request:
For in-person requests, you can visit the Texas Department of State Health Services at:
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, Texas 78756
Note: Affidavit forms are not provided at the time of hand-delivery. All affidavits will be mailed to you via U.S. Postal Service.
By following these steps, students can properly request and obtain a Texas Meningitis Vaccine Exemption Affidavit, ensuring compliance with state regulations while respecting personal beliefs and accessing essential texas human services.
