Illinois’ vaccine advisory panel recommended Monday that all adults receive a Covid-19 vaccine, bucking federal restrictions on the vaccination. 

The panel also recommended the vaccine for some children, including those who are high- risk or have never received the Covid-19 vaccine or are living with someone who is high-risk. They also recommended the vaccination for individuals who are or will be pregnant.  

The panel also recommended the influenza vaccination for those six months and older. They recommend the RSV vaccination for infants less than eight months old, as well as all adults 75 and older and adults ages 57 to 74 who are at increased risk of RSV.  

The recommendations come as Democratic states across the country move away from federal recommendations, citing concerns about the direction of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  

In August, HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced through X that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) emergency approvals for the Covid-19 vaccines were revoked, except for high-risk people over 65. This does not constitute a ban of the vaccine, but opponents still protested the issue, saying some health insurance companies now may not cover the vaccine.  

Kennedy then removed all members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine panel, which is tasked with reviewing data on vaccines and voting on who should receive them.  

The newly appointed vaccine panel voted unanimously Friday to limit Covid-19 recommendations.  

The panel said that adults 65 and older should receive the shot after discussions with a healthcare provider, according to the New York Times. The panel said individuals who are between six months and 64 years old could still receive the vaccination, though the FDA’s emergency approval for that age group is still revoked.  

Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order Sept. 15 creating the Statewide Vaccine Access Initiative, led by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), to “ensure Illinoisans can get the vaccines they need and can rely on science-based guidance.”   

As part of this order, IDPH’s Immunization Advisory Committee (IAC) has been tasked with making vaccine recommendations for the state.   

IDPH Director Sameer Vohra will also sign a standing order later this week allowing eligible pharmacy and clinical providers to administer vaccines that have been recommended by IDPH.  

Vohra said Monday that the executive order and the IAC’s meeting were not “routine practice,” but said they are necessary.  

“The federal government is no longer practicing the science-based processes that have guided national vaccine recommendations for decades,” he said.  

Vohra made it clear that they were not discussing vaccine mandates, just recommendations.  

The committee makes their recommendations before the beginning of respiratory season, which typically goes from October to May. The CDC is anticipating this year's season to see similar rates as the 2024-25 season, with peaks around February. Influenza rates are expected to decrease following increased rates during the 2024-2025 season.  

Because of this, the committee is making blanket recommendations for the Covid-19, RSV and influenza vaccinations.  

As of August 2025, about 28.6 percent of recommended Illinoisans have received their influenza shot, according to IDPH’s Influenza Vaccination Coverage Dashboard. About 12.3 percent have received an updated Covid-19 vaccine. Providers are not required to submit data on vaccinations administered to IDPH, so numbers could be underreported.  

The committee will have a second meeting in 2025 to discuss any supplemental vaccination recommendations. That date has not yet been scheduled.