Pritzker criticizes White House on medical guidance, urges Illinois residents consult with doctors

CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Governor J.B. Pritzker is taking a stand against what he calls “medical misinformation” from the federal government, emphasizing the importance of accurate public health information.

During a meeting with public health experts at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Pritzker criticized recent federal actions, including the firing of the CDC director and changes to COVID vaccine guidelines, as undermining public health efforts.

“When your life, or your health, are on the line, you need facts and you need evidence, to make good decisions for yourselves and for your families,” Pritzker said.

Pritzker stressed that vaccines are safe and effective, urging people to rely on their doctors for medical information rather than online sources.

Last month, he signed an executive order allowing the Illinois Department of Public Health to distribute vaccinations despite federal changes.

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