The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on Tuesday, Sept. 23, released new fall respiratory virus vaccine guidance and issued a statewide standing order to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines.  

Additionally, for routine, non-seasonal vaccines, IDPH recommends that healthcare providers continue to follow the CDC immunization schedules for children and adults issued as of Aug. 7 which are based on years of science, research, data, and best practices. These measures are being taken in accordance with the executive order issued by Governor Pritzker earlier this month.   

The fall vaccine guidance was adopted by IDPH after discussion and votes made by the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee (IL-IAC) on Sept. 22. These actions are necessary because the federal government is no longer following its rigorous scientific review processes for vaccine-related decisions. The CDC’s gold-standard practices, followed for decades, have prevented serious illness and saved millions of lives nationwide.  

“All Illinoisans, including concerned parents and health care providers, deserve credible, transparent, science-based vaccine guidance,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “IDPH’s recommendations, made in consultation with our Immunization Advisory Committee, will ensure that residents can protect themselves and their family members this upcoming respiratory season. In addition, the accompanying standing order will allow residents access to COVID-19 vaccine in local pharmacies and other health care settings.” 

IDPH issued the following vaccination guidance for the 2025-2026 respiratory illness season:  

• Flu vaccination is recommended for all people ages 6 months and older.
• RSV immunization is recommended for:
  • All pregnant people during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy.
  • All infants under the age of 8 months without maternal RSV vaccine protection entering their first RSV season.
  • Children ages 8 months through 19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease.
  • Adults ages 50 years through 74 years at increased risk of severe RSV disease.
  • All adults ages 75 years and older.
• COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for:
  • All children ages 6 months through 23 months.
  • Children ages 2 years through 17 years who have at least one underlying risk factor, who have weakened immune systems, who have never been previously vaccinated for COVID-19, who live in congregate settings or live in households with those at risk for severe COVID-19.
  • Children ages 2 years through 17 years without underlying risk factors whose parents/guardians want them to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • All pregnant people and those who are planning pregnancy, those who are postpartum (after pregnancy), or during lactation.
  • All adults 18 years and older.

Last season, flu vaccination reduced the risk of hospitalization by up to 78% for children, COVID-19 vaccines cut hospitalizations among seniors nearly in half, and RSV protection prevented almost 90% of infant hospitalizations. These results underscore the life-saving importance of vaccination this fall.  

Along with these recommendations, Vohra issued a standing order allowing residents who need to get a COVID-19 vaccine to have access in pharmacies and other clinical settings. The standing order will facilitate health care providers in pharmacies and other clinical settings to administer COVID-19 vaccines in accordance with IDPH’s recommendations.

Federal insurance programs, fully-insured plans subject to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and state-regulated insurance programs will cover COVID-19 shots. In recognition of the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in preventing serious illness, most private insurers have also indicated their intention to continue covering the COVID-19 vaccine. 

For other routine, non-seasonal, vaccinations, IDPH continues to recommend that providers follow the Aug. 7 CDC Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule and the Adult Immunization Schedules located on IDPH’s website. 

This schedule does not include today’s updated COVID-19 recommendations and providers are encouraged to follow the State of Illinois’ recommendations.  IDPH will issue updated immunization schedule recommendations as appropriate should there be new federal or medical specialty society guidance for review or receive alternate recommendations from the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee. 

As the fall respiratory virus season begins, IDPH’s Seasonal Respiratory Illness Dashboard is designed to provide important information on COVID-19, flu, and RSV activity in Illinois.  

Illinois typically experiences a peak in flu, RSV and COVID-19 activity in December with flu often having a second peak in February. Given the critical importance of getting vaccinated prior to the surge in respiratory viral activity, IDPH also provides the public a Vaccine Locator Dashboard with information on where to find publicly funded vaccines.  

As Illinois heads into peak viral season, IDPH urges residents to get vaccinated early and speak with their health care provider if they have any questions. Vaccine locations are available through the IDPH Vaccine Locator Dashboard, local health departments, pharmacies, and health care providers. Residents may also track the status of the flu and COVID-19 vaccine coverage in their counties to make informed choices on the protection they need to take this season.