Senate Bill No. 421 Summary

• Requires one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine for children ages 11-12 attending public, private, parochial or parish schools in Missouri.

• Requires one booster dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine for children after they attain age 16.

• Allows exemptions from school immunization requirements for children whose parent or guardian objects based on religious beliefs or medical contraindications (with physician statement required for medical exemptions).

• Requires all public university and college students residing in on-campus housing to have received the meningococcal conjugate vaccine beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, unless they have medical or religious exemptions on file.

• Institutions of higher education are not required to provide or pay for the meningococcal vaccine; students must obtain it themselves.