Red Raider Orientation is now giving future Texas Tech students another opportunity for peace of mind if they plan on living in a residence hall.

Meningitis vaccinations are being offered to students during orientation. The vaccination is currently available at the Student Wellness Center for $120, according to Student Health Services chief pharmacist Melanie Bixler.

However, according to managing director of University Student Housing Sean Duggan, shots are also available at the City of Lubbock Health Department for $10.

Bixler said that the vaccination covers the A,B,C,Y and W-35 strands of meningitis.

Beginning in January, all students that were going to move into residence halls were mandated by the state to show proof of the meningitis vaccination.

“They just have to provide documentation for us that they have received the vaccination and it’s been at least ten days prior to moving into the halls,” Duggan said.

The ten-day period ensures that the vaccination has become active by the time students enter their residence hall, Duggan said.

If students do not wish to get the vaccination there is an alternative that still allows them to live in a residence hall. Duggan said that a student can fill out a form on the Texas Department of State Health Services website. After submitting the form to the state, the university then needs a copy of the exemption form in order for the student to live on campus.

During orientation, students will be provided transportation to the Student Wellness Center by bus.

There is a sizable disparity in the number of new students living in residence halls during the fall semester as compared to this past spring semester.

“In January we had around 350 (new) students (living in the residence halls),” Duggan said. “Now with a freshman class of 5,000, we’ve got to make extra efforts to make sure everyone knows.“

The vaccine itself covers all but one of the types of meningitis, said medical director of Student Health Services Kelly Bennett. It also lasts the student three to five years.

It is advantageous for students to receive the vaccination due to the fact that there are cases of viral meningitis every year on campus.

“We have ten to 20 cases of viral (meningitis) a year,” Bennett said. “Freshmen in dorms have a higher rate than the general population.”

She said she has not seen a single case of bacterial meningitis in her 12 years at Tech.

If students do not present either a proof of vaccination or an exemption document there will be a consequence.

“We put a hold on records — it won’t prevent students from registering, but it will let them know that this is some business they’ve got to get done before moving into the halls,” Duggan said.

Student Health Services have already seen an increased number of inquiries about the vaccination.

“There’s definitely been a lot of questions,” Bixler said. “We haven’t given that many more (vaccinations) yet, but we will before the summer is over.”