(Springfield, IL) – Yesterday, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to develop its own communicable disease prevention guidelines, independent of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in order to safeguard access to vaccines and maintain evidence-based public health standards.
“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,” said Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan, who was the Chief Sponsor of HB767.
HB 767 expands the authority of the Immunization Advisory Committee within the Illinois Department of Public Health and empowers the Director of Public Health to issue state-specific vaccine guidelines. Modeled after the former CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) – recently dismantled by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – the Illinois committee will develop clear, evidence-based recommendations on vaccines and treatments during disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
“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.”
“Recent federal actions have made it critically important that Illinois residents have confidence in the process by which the State is making health decisions,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “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.”
As the federal government dismantles decades of public health expertise, Illinois is reaffirming its commitment to science-based decision-making by requiring the Director of Public Health to consult with medical and scientific experts, to ensure all state guidelines are grounded in proven research and best practices. These guidelines will be publicly available on the Department’s website, providing Illinois families, healthcare providers, and local health departments with clear, up-to-date information rooted in science.