Executive Order 2025-04

WHEREAS, protecting the health and safety of Illinoisans is among the most important functions of State government; and,

WHEREAS, vaccines are among the most effective public health tools to prevent illness, disease, disability, and death, and remain essential to protecting Illinoisans throughout their lifespan; and,

WHEREAS, significant uncertainty in policy and process disruptions at the federal level have threatened stability in vaccine supply, guidance, and financing, including creating risks to the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program and diminishing confidence in the federal advisory process; and, 

WHEREAS, more than 620,000 children in Illinois received publicly-funded vaccines through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program in Fiscal Year 2025, and ensuring equitable access to safe and effective vaccines is essential to protecting their health; and, 

WHEREAS, the federal government recently has undertaken actions that are contrary to the public health, including critical operational and policy changes relating to life-saving vaccinations within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and, 

WHEREAS, on August 27, 2025, the Secretary of HHS announced that emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for the COVID-19 vaccination had been terminated and the reconstituted federal Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has to date failed to make COVID-19 vaccine recommendations; and, 

WHEREAS, approximately 1.5 million Illinoisans received an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine dose, yet the virus continues to cause significant illness, with more than 11,200 hospitalizations, over 1,100 ICU admissions, and three pediatric deaths in Illinois during the 2024-2025 viral respiratory season; and, 

WHEREAS, for children born in the US between 1994 and 2023, routine childhood immunization prevented more than 500 million lifetime cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1,129,000 premature deaths from vaccine-preventable illnesses; and,   

WHEREAS, the 2024-2025 flu season brought the worst American flu outbreak in decades, alongside sharp increases in other vaccine-preventable diseases, including a twenty-year high of pertussis cases and multiple measles outbreaks, all of which highlight the urgent need for robust vaccination programs; and, 

WHEREAS, the ACIP announced new work groups to reexamine the entire routine childhood immunization schedule, including Hepatitis B at birth, despite the schedule having already undergone extensive scientific review for safety and efficacy and having resulted in significant declines in vaccine-preventable diseases; and,  

WHEREAS, the latest FDA approval for the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines removed approval for children and adults ages 6 months to 64 years with no underlying risk conditions from COVID-19 vaccination eligibility, and the latest CDC immunization schedule removed a recommendation for vaccination for pregnant patients; and, 

WHEREAS, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its own vaccine schedule noting the federal government’s guidance on the COVID-19 vaccination was no longer credible, and recommending that all children ages 6 months to 23 months should receive the latest COVID-19 vaccination to reduce the risks of serious illness, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) continues to recommend that all pregnant and lactating individuals receive an updated COVID-19 vaccination; and, 

WHEREAS, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) continues to also recommend vaccinations in accordance with both the AAP and ACOG guidance, including COVID-19 vaccines for all adults 18 and older, underscoring a consensus by medical societies and scientists that reducing COVID-19 vaccine eligibility is detrimental to public health; and, 

WHEREAS, Illinois must ensure continuity of access to routine, catch-up, and outbreak-response immunizations, particularly for children, seniors, people with disabilities, and pregnant patients, along with underserved populations and rural residents; and, 

WHEREAS, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is charged with protecting public health, preventing and controlling communicable diseases, and coordinating statewide public health guidance; and, 

WHEREAS, multiple state agencies can play important roles in reaching populations with vaccination information and services; and, 

WHEREAS, to safeguard Illinoisans, the State must act swiftly to stabilize vaccine supply, simplify access, provide credible science-based guidance, and strengthen the clinical workforce and provider networks;  

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JB PRITZKER, Governor of Illinois, by virtue of the executive authority vested in me by the Illinois Constitution and laws of the State of Illinois, do hereby order the following: 

1. ALL‑OF‑GOVERNMENT VACCINE ACCESS INITIATIVE
   1. Lead Agency. IDPH shall lead a Statewide Vaccine Access Initiative to coordinate additional vaccine planning, financing, supply, and access. IDPH shall use the authority and expertise of the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee (IL-IAC) to advance vaccination recommendations, requirements and guidelines where federal actions fail to protect the public health.
   2. Participating Agencies. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA), Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), and Illinois Department on Aging (Aging), shall designate senior representatives from their respective agencies within ten days to participate in the implementation of this Order.
   3. Underserved and Rural Focus. All actions shall prioritize underserved populations, including rural and low-income communities and people with disabilities.
2. STANDING ORDER
   1. a. Issuance. Within 15 days of the issuance of this Executive Order, the IDPH Director, after consultation with the IL-IAC, shall issue statewide standing orders authorizing eligible providers in pharmacy and other appropriate clinical settings to administer vaccines, which may include: seasonal respiratory vaccines such as for COVID-19, Flu, and RSV as well as routine child and adult vaccines, such as MMR or Hepatitis B, as deemed appropriate by IDPH.
   2. Age Indications. The Standing Order shall delineate the authority of eligible providers, including pharmacists, to administer vaccines across various age groups based on IDPH recommendations, to the maximum extent permitted by law. 
   3. Documentation. The Statewide Standing Order shall require reporting to the state immunization registry (I‑CARE).
   4. Access and Hours. IDPH shall encourage extended hours, mobile clinics, and rural pharmacy partnerships to minimize access barriers. 
   5. Scope. Nothing herein is intended to alter any statutory scope of practice. All actions pursuant to this Executive Order shall be limited to the extent permitted by law. IDPH and IDFPR shall, to the extent allowed by law, undertake any necessary emergency or permanent rulemaking to effectuate implementation of the Standing Order.
3. CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND INSURANCE COVERAGE
   1. Vaccines for Children (VFC) Contingency Planning. IDPH shall develop contingency plans to maintain access for VFC‑eligible children if federal disruptions threaten inventory or distribution.
   2. Private Insurance Patient Coverage. The Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI) shall require, through bulletin, emergency or permanent rulemaking, or other lawful means, that state‑regulated health insurance issuers cover vaccines and related administration based on IDPH recommendations, without patient cost‑sharing, including where such recommendations extend beyond current ACIP schedules, to the maximum extent permitted by law.
   3. Recommendations for Continued Vaccine Access. State agencies participating in the Statewide Vaccine Access Initiative shall make recommendations to the Governor within 15 days of how the State can act to ensure continued access to coverage and administration of vaccines.
4. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
   1. Plain‑Language Guidance. IDPH shall publish and regularly update plain‑language clinical guidance and public FAQs related to its vaccine recommendations, with materials in formats accessible to people with disabilities or limited English proficiency.
   2. Community Partnerships. IDPH shall continue to partner with local health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), rural health clinics, schools, disability organizations, faith communities, and pharmacies to host clinics and outreach aimed at promoting science-based, expert-informed health care.
   3. School and Child‑Serving Settings. ISBE, IDEC, and DCFS shall partner with IDPH to support school‑located vaccination sites consistent with law.
5. SAVINGS CLAUSE, SEVERABILITY
   Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to contravene any State or federal law. If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.
6. EFFECTIVE DATE
   This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State.

__________________________

JB Pritzker Governor

Issued by the Governor: September 12, 2025 

Filed with the Secretary of State: September 12, 2025