The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced on Thursday, Feb. 5, that it will adopt the 2026 child and adolescent immunization schedule recently issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 

The announcement, which was informed by the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee’s recommendations, reinforces other recent actions taken by the Pritzker administration to protect the health and well-being of children, families, and communities statewide. 

Amid ongoing federal changes to vaccine guidance that are not backed by strong scientific evidence, the endorsement aims to provide clarity and consistency to Illinois residents and health care providers.

The AAP’s latest immunization schedule continues to universally recommend important childhood vaccines that are supported by robust scientific evidence and were previously recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Recent changes in the federal childhood immunization guidance weakened the recommendation for certain vaccines despite the absence of scientific data warranting a change. 

The newly endorsed AAP childhood schedule remains unchanged from what IDPH has previously recommended. The established science around vaccines has not changed, and although this is a new endorsement, all immunization recommendations are consistent with past guidance.

Vaccine locations can be found through the IDPH Vaccine Locator Dashboard, local health departments, pharmacies, and health care providers. All immunizations recommended by IDPH continue to be covered by other private insurance plans, Medicaid, and the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.