Vaccination now required
for new & transfer students
under 30 years of age...

What is the deadline for receiving the vaccine?

The vaccination must have been administered within the 5-year period immediately preceding the first semester of enrollment and at least 10 days prior to the start of the semester. Students may not register until documentation of vaccination is on file.

How do I prove I have received the vaccination?

You must provide a copy of your vaccination record to the Registrar’s Office (do not submit originals). Kilgore College will not return vaccination records submitted nor provide copies for use at other schools. Records may be mailed, faxed, or delivered in person to the Registrar's Office.

Kilgore College
Registrar’s Office
1100 Broadway
Kilgore, TX 75662
Fax: (903) 983-8607
Devall Student Center--2nd floor

An acceptable record of vaccination is one of the following:

1. A vaccination record that includes the signature or stamp of a physician or his/her designee or public health personnel. Must include month, day, and year the vaccination was administered.

2. An official immunization record generated from a state or local health authority.

3. An official record received from school officials, including a record from another state.

The vaccination record must show receipt of either the meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Menomune or MPSV4) or meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra or Menveo or MCV4).

Are there exemptions from receiving the vaccine?

Yes. Students age 30 and older are exempt. 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 institution:

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;

OR...

A conscientious exemption form from the Texas Department of State Health Services stating that the student declines the vaccination for bacterial meningitis for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. For information about obtaining this form, call 1-800-252-9152 or go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize.

Where can I get the shot?

Vaccines are available in the Kilgore College Campus Nurse’s Office located on the Kilgore campus. To obtain the vaccination on campus, prospective students need to go to the cashier’s office, located in the Devall Student Center, to obtain a Vaccination Authorization and Verification form.

Cost of the vaccine at KC is $135. This can be paid for in person or the charges can be added to your Spring account.

Please note, prospective students must have a completed admissions application on file in order to access this service.

In addition, each county has a public health division that may be able to administer the shot. The vaccine can also be administered by a private physician’s office.  

Vaccinations may also be available at retail pharmacies such as Walgreens or CVS.

The Walgreens in Kilgore is offering Bacterial Menigitis Shots, open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. The Walgreens in Henderson is also offering the shot, open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Walkins welcome, no appointment needed.

Cost of the shot at Walgreens is $133.99. Make sure to bring your insurance cards, because they do accept some.

Also, please make sure to call ahead of time to the location where you wish to receive the vaccine to make sure that:

1) ...they have the vaccine on hand and
2) ...you are eligible to receive the vaccine from that particular place.

County Health Departments:

GREGG COUNTY	HARRISON COUNTY
Gregg County Health Dept. Services Building 405 E. Marshall Avenue, Suite 104 Longview, TX 75601 Phone: 903-237-2620 Shot Clinic Hours: 12:30 - 4 p.m. HealthCare Express 1509 W. Loop 281 Longview 903-759-9355 $129 (One Day Only – January 10, 2012) Walgreens Pharmacy 511 E. Marshall Avenue 903-234-9509 $134 Walgreens Pharmacy 330-1 N. 4th Street 903-663-4362 $134 Louis Morgan Drugs 110 Johnston Street 903-758-6164 $140 Kroger 701 West Marshall, Ave. 903-758-0323 $125	Marahall-Harrison County Health Dept. 1900 South Washington St. Marshall, TX 75670 Phone: 903-938-8330
SMITH COUNTY	RUSK COUNTY
Texas Dept. of State Health Services - Region 4/5 517 West Front St. Tyler, TX 75702 Phone: 903-595-3585	Rusk County Community Health Clinic 1115 Hwy. 259 South Henderson, TX 75652 Phone: 903-392-8203 Kroger 2145 US Highway 79 South 903-657-8596 $125
PANOLA COUNTY	CHEROKEE COUNTY
Panola County Health Services ETMC--Carthage 409 W. Cottage Road Carthage, TX 75663 Phone: 903-693-3841	Cherokee County Health Department 593 North Main St. Rusk, TX 75785 Phone: 903-683-4688
TEXARKANA-BOWIE COUNTY	WOOD COUNTY
Texarkana-Bowie County Family Health Center 902 West 12th St. Texarkana, TX 75501 Phone: 903-798-2902	Wood County Health Department P.O. Box 1704 Quitman, TX 75783 Phone: 903-763-5406
PARIS-LAMAR COUNTY	NACOGDOCHES COUNTY
Paris-Lamar County Health Department 740 SW 6th St. Paris, TX 75460 Phone: 903-785-4561	Nacogdoches Department of Health 2027 N. Stallings, Suite B Nacogdoches, TX 75961 Phone: 903-596-5423

More information about Bacterial Meningitis...

Meningitis is an inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord - also called the meninges. It is important that students consult a physician about the need for the immunization against bacterial meningitis to prevent the disease. More information about the causes, symptoms, types, risks and seriousness as well as ways to prevent meningococcal meningitis are available through the following links (All links open in a new window):

• Bacterial Meningitis Fact Sheet from Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
• Meningococcal Vaccines Flyer from CDC
• Gregg County Health Department
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Service