(NBC Chicago) - Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed an executive order paving the way for Illinois to launch a statewide effort to "protect vaccine access as the fall respiratory virus season approaches," saying such a move was necessary after recent confusion over COVID vaccine guidance and "concerning actions taken by Health and Human services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr." (edited)
“This is about making sure no family in Illinois is left wondering if they can protect themselves against preventable serious illness,” Pritzker said in a release announcing Executive Order 2025-04. “When the federal government abandons its responsibility, Illinois will step up. We will follow the science, listen to medical experts, and do everything in our power to enable families to receive the care they need.”
According to the release, a "Statewide Vaccine Access Initiative" would be created, led by the Illinois Department of Public Health and other state agencies. It also directs IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra to issue a "Standing Order" to allow pharmacy and clinic providers to administrate vaccines recommended by the IDPH and other experts.
The order also calls for the IDPH to publish "plain-language guidance" on vaccines, along with continued school and community clinic-based vaccine support.
Other measures in the order, the release said, specifically target the recent "volatile" decisions taken by the HHS and Kennedy.
"These actions have led to the erosion of trust, caused confusion regarding vaccine guidelines, and threatened access to life-saving vaccines," the release said. "Executive Order 2025-04 is designed to ensure that no matter what direction the federal government takes, Illinoisans will have access to seasonal and routine child and adult vaccines: protecting them from a wide range of illnesses and diseases including COVID-19, flu, RSV, polio, measles, whooping cough, and hepatitis B."
In August, several officials at the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention resigned after the White House announced CDC Director Susan Monarez, who was confirmed in July, had been fired. White House spokesman Kush Desai said Monarez "was not aligned with the President's agenda of Making America Healthy Again."
At the same, the Food and Drug Administration approved the next round of COVD shots for fall, but only for a smaller, high-risk group of people. The new restrictions, which must still be approved and recommended by the CDC, are likely to affect what insurers cover for people who don’t qualify for the updated Covid shots.
Shortly after the exodus, Vohra published a letter online expressing concern about the departures, saying the CDC executives who left were "asked to participate in an unscientific vaccine recommendation process that they believe could harm the health of Americans."
Vohra's letter went on to say the moves prompted IDPH to create its own specific guidance by the end of September, "to help Illinois health care providers and residents make informed decisions about vaccination and protecting themselves and their loved ones."
According to the release, Illinois' Immunization Advisory Committee will next convene Sept. 22 to discuss fall respiratory season. By Sept. 26, IDPH will use the IAC’s recommendations "to provide clear public guidance to help Illinois health care providers and help residents make informed decisions about vaccination and protect against fall respiratory illnesses," the release said.
The release went on to say that IDPH encourages all those in Illinois, especially people 65 and older and those who have chronic medical conditions to speak with their health care provider about fall vaccines.
“Vaccines are safe, effective, and essential to saving lives,” Vohra said in the release. “With confusing and conflicting guidelines from the federal government, the Executive Order ensures Illinois residents have the credible, transparent, and science-based guidance they need to make vaccine decisions for themselves and their family. We will work with every partner—from pharmacies to schools to rural clinics—to ensure access to critical vaccines to keep our Illinois residents and their families protected.”
A CDC advisory committee that makes recommendations on who should get vaccinated is scheduled to meet Thursday and Friday. In June, Kennedy fired all 17 members of the panel and replaced them with his own picks, including several Covid vaccine skeptics.
This article originally appeared on NBC Chicago
Copyright © 2025 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
