Illinois Creates Its Own Vaccine Rules for Flu, COVID-19, and RSV

Illinois has released its own guidelines for flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines this fall. The state acted because the federal government has been slow and confusing with its vaccine advice. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced the new recommendations on Thursday to help keep people safe during the upcoming respiratory virus season.

The state's new guidelines cover three vaccines. For the flu vaccine, Illinois recommends that everyone age 6 months and older get a shot. For COVID-19, the state recommends vaccines for all adults 19 and older, all babies from 6 months to 23 months old, and other children whose parents want them vaccinated or who have certain health risks. People who are pregnant, recently pregnant, or planning to become pregnant are also advised to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

For the RSV vaccine, Illinois recommends shots for all adults 75 and older. Adults between 50 and 74 who have a higher chance of getting very sick are also advised to get vaccinated if they haven't already. Pregnant people between weeks 32 and 36 of their pregnancy should get the RSV vaccine if they haven't had it before. Babies under 8 months old whose mothers did not get the vaccine during pregnancy should receive it, and children aged 8 to 19 months who are at higher risk for severe illness should get it too.

These recommendations came from the state's Immunization Advisory Committee, which is made up of doctors and public health experts. Dr. Sameer Vohra, the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said the state committee is helping fill a gap left by the federal government. He explained that the federal immunization advisory committee has not met since December of last year. "We can't pause the critical evidence-based processes that guide essential public health practice just because we aren't getting some of those science-based processes from the federal government," Vohra said.

The federal advisory committee has not yet met this year because of ongoing lawsuits, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to questions about the issue. In the past, states have usually followed the federal government's lead when it comes to vaccine recommendations.

That changed last year when Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, replaced all the members of the federal vaccine advisory committee. Kennedy has expressed doubt about the safety and usefulness of vaccines. After the swap, the new federal committee decided to stop recommending the COVID-19 vaccine and leave the decision up to each person.

Illinois was not alone in pushing back. Several other states also chose not to follow the new federal stance. For the flu vaccine, the federal government is still keeping its old recommendation that everyone 6 months and older should get the shot this season.

Major national medical groups have also stepped in to give guidance. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, both based in Illinois, joined other medical groups this month to release their own joint recommendations for flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines. Illinois' new guidelines match those recommendations closely, showing that doctors and state health officials are working together to give people clear and trustworthy advice.