Lake County Gazette

The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill allowing the state to develop its own vaccine guidelines, independent of federal recommendations. The move comes after the dismantling of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan, who sponsored the legislation, said, “At a time when the Trump administration’s top priority is to dismantle and sow uncertainty in our healthcare system, the General Assembly has taken decisive action to protect patients. Illinois is leading the nation in protecting public health and upholding science-based care for all residents. These attacks on public trust have no place in our state. With this new authority for the Department of Public Health, Illinois is choosing to stand with decades of sound science, not RFK’s latest conspiracy theory.”

House Bill 767 gives expanded authority to the Immunization Advisory Committee within the Illinois Department of Public Health and allows the Director of Public Health to issue vaccine guidelines specific to Illinois. The committee will create evidence-based recommendations for vaccines and treatments during outbreaks or emergencies, similar to what ACIP did before it was dissolved at the federal level.

“HB 767 strengthens public-health oversight and transparency – making sure expert medical advice guides our immunization policies and that recommendations are published for families and providers,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “By passing this bill, we continue to hold pharmacy benefit managers to a higher standard.”

IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra stated, “Recent federal actions have made it critically important that Illinois residents have confidence in the process by which the State is making health decisions. This bill makes important changes that both codify the role of trusted experts in our vaccine recommendation process and ensure science-based vaccine access through Illinois-regulated insurance plans. We applaud the General Assembly’s leadership on this important bill. IDPH remains committed to being the credible, transparent science-based partner that protects and promotes the health of every resident in Illinois.”

The new law requires consultation with medical and scientific experts before issuing any state guideline. All guidance will be available online for families, healthcare providers, and local health departments.

Morgan has represented Illinois’ 58th House District since his election in 2019 as a Democrat replacing Scott Drury.