All students who are enrolling for the first time in on-campus housing in the state of Oklahoma must be vaccinated for meningococcal diseases.
According to Oklahoma Christian University, meningococcal disease is the number-one cause of bacterial meningitis in people through the age of 18. Bacterial meningitis causes an infection in the fluid located in the brain and spinal cord, and can be lethal if not treated swiftly and correctly.
Meningoccoccal disease can also cause blood infections. Oklahoma Christian University statistics indicated that up to 2,600 Americans contract meningoccoccal disease each year, and that 10 to 15 percent of these people die as a result. Freshmen living in dorms with large numbers of people are especially susceptible to such diseases, and so the immunizations are required.
Full- or part-time students attending classes on Oklahoma college and university campuses must provide documentation indicating that they have receive immunizations for hepatitis B and for measles, mumps and rubella.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks a person's liver. The disease can lead to pain, diarrhea, vomiting and jaundice; severe cases can result in permanent liver damage, liver cancer or death. Oklahoma Christian University indicates that up to 5,000 Americans die each year as a result of hepatitis B.
A measles infection generally causes rash, eye irritation and fever; severe cases can cause seizures, brain damage and death. Mumps cause fever and swelling glands, and in rare cases can result in meningitis or deafness. Rubella is a German strain of the measles, and generally has less severe effects.
People over the age of 12 can receive a combined "MMR " vaccine that prevents measles, mumps and rubella.
There are rare exceptions for Oklahoma students with regard to these immunizations.
Students involved in distance learning or online courses, who will not be present on campus for their educations, are not required to receive immunizations.
Students over the age of 18, or a younger student's guardian, can sign a waiver form to exempt them from receiving the meningococcal vaccine, but this is not recommended for students living on campus.
In regards to the hepatitis and MMR immunizations, schools can accept a physician's note indicating that the vaccine would harm the patient as an exemption. Students can also supply written statements declaring that receiving the vaccines would contradict the student's or guardian's moral or religious beliefs.