CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a new law giving the state the authority to create its own vaccine recommendations, separate from federal guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
House Bill 767 establishes a state-level framework for immunization policy and access. Under the law, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) can issue vaccine recommendations based on guidance from the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee (IAC), a panel made up of medical and public health experts.
A key component of the measure requires state-regulated insurance plans to cover vaccines recommended by IDPH at no cost to patients — even if the CDC does not issue the same guidance.
The law also gives the IAC the power to override the IDPH director’s recommendations with a two-thirds vote, which Pritzker said ensures decisions stay grounded in science.
“While RFK Jr. and his QAnon-inspired colleagues spread conspiracy theories and dangerous misinformation about vaccines, Illinois is stepping up to protect the health of our people,” Pritzker said. “It is vitally important that Illinois families can get trusted advice about vaccines, guided by experts and established research.”
The measure comes after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in June, saying a “clean sweep” was needed to rebuild public trust after the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics said the move significantly weakened national vaccine policy. New committee members have since been appointed.
The new Illinois law also:
• Allows pharmacists to administer select vaccines to children as young as 3 (previously 7)
• Requires IDPH to publish its vaccine guidelines and advisory committee recommendations online
Some Republicans criticized the bill, including Rep. Bill Hauter (R-Morton), a medical doctor, who called it “a Trump derangement syndrome bill.” Hauter said Republicans support vaccination but argued the bill was designed to signal opposition to the Trump administration, making it difficult for them to support.
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