Illinois issues new fall vaccination guidance amid CDC changes

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois health officials have issued new state guidance for fall vaccinations, because “the federal government is no longer following its rigorous scientific review processes for vaccine-related decisions.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced that the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all individuals, with the exception of children aged 2 through 17 who do not have risk factors. This guidance follows the CDC’s recent decision to base vaccinations on individual decision-making.

The fall vaccine guidance was adopted by the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee (IL-IAC) on September 22, 2025, after thorough discussion and voting. The IL-IAC is composed of 20 experts in fields such as epidemiology, infectious diseases, and public health.

In addition to COVID-19 vaccines, Illinois recommends flu shots for everyone over 6 months old. The state has also issued recommendations for RSV immunization, targeting specific groups such as pregnant individuals and older adults at increased risk.

“At a time when the federal government is abdicating its responsibility to provide clear, science-informed guidance, Illinois is stepping up,” said Governor JB Pritzker.

The CDC’s practices, which have been followed for decades, have been credited with preventing serious illnesses and saving millions of lives.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WTVO staff before being published.