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Vaccination Requirement

During the 2011 Texas legislative session, Texas Senate Bill 1107 (SB 1107) was passed and signed into law. Effective January 1, 2012, SB 1107 requires all students under age 22 entering a public or private institution of higher education in Texas to receive a vaccination against bacterial meningitis at least ten days before the first day of the semester, or meet certain criteria for declining such a vaccination. The term “entering student” includes all new students to any DTS campus and returning DTS students to any Texas campus that have taken the most recent fall or spring semester off from enrollment. Any entering student thus defined is required to provide documentation no less than 10 days prior to the first day of classes. Once having received the vaccination please complete the Bacterial Meningitis Form* online, then submit the appropriate documentation as evidence of the vaccination.

Bacterial Meningitis Form

Students are strongly encouraged to obtain the bacterial meningitis vaccination before entering the United States or moving to the Dallas area.

If you have any questions, please contact Student Life at 214-887-5360 or by email at studentlife@dts.edu.

Evidence of Vaccination

Evidence of vaccination must verify that the vaccination was received at least 10 days prior to the first day of the semester and must be submitted in one of the following three formats:

  1. A document bearing the signature or stamp of the physician or his/her designee, or public health personnel (must include the month, day, and year the vaccination was administered).
  2. An official immunization record generated from a state or local health authority (must include the month, day, and year the vaccination was administered).
  3. An official record received from school officials, including a record from another state (must include the month, day, and year the vaccination was administered).

Evidence to Decline Vaccination​

Evidence to decline vaccination must be submitted in one of the following two formats:

  1. An affidavit or a certificate signed by a physician who is duly registered and licensed to practice medicine in the United States, in which it is stated that, in the physician’s opinion, the vaccination required would be injurious to the health and well-being of the student.
  2. An affidavit signed by the student stating that the student declines the vaccination for bacterial meningitis for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief.
    • Students living in on-campus accommodation or less than 18 years of age must use the “Exemption from Immunizations for Reasons of Conscience Affidavit Form” from the Texas Department of State Health Services, available here. Affidavits need to be notarized before they are submitted to Student Services*.
    • Students living off campus may use the “Exemption from Immunizations for Bacterial Meningitis for Reasons of Conscience” affidavit from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, available here. Affidavits need to be notarized before they are submitted to Student Life (Student Life provides a notary service free of charge).

Important Considerations

  • You are strongly encouraged to obtain the bacterial meningitis vaccination before entering the United States or moving to the Dallas area.
  • You will not be allowed to attend classes until you provide proof of vaccination.
  • The bacterial meningitis vaccination must be administered by a Health Practitioner authorized by law to administer an immunization.
  • Vaccinations older than 5 years will require a booster.
  • The bacterial meningitis vaccination is available at most local pharmacies
  • The cost of the bacterial meningitis vaccination may be cheaper in your home country or through your current physician.

All students must receive the bacterial meningitis vaccination at least 10 days prior to the start of the semester.

How to Submit Evidence of Vaccination or an Affidavit to Decline Vaccination

All documents should be mailed, faxed, emailed or hand-delivered to Student Life.

Mail: Dallas Theological Seminary, Student Life, 3909 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204
Fax: 214-887-5535
E-mail: studentlife@dts.edu
Hand Delivery: Student Life Office on the Dallas campus