The Food and Drug Administration approved updated COVID-19 shots for the fall, tightening restrictions on those who can access the vaccine. Under the updated approvals, only those over 65 and people with existing health problems are recommended to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Aug. 27 that emergency-use authorizations had been terminated for COVID-19 vaccines.
In response, Illinois established its own immunization guidance to expand access to residents across the state.
Pritzker establishes Illinois vaccine initiative
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed Executive Order 2025-04 on Sept. 12, establishing the Statewide Vaccine Access Initiative to ensure Illinois residents can access the vaccines they need.
The initiative will be led by the Illinois Department of Public Health in partnership with multiple state agencies. It will direct IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra to permit eligible providers in pharmacies and other clinical settings to administer vaccines recommended by the IDPH and approved by their Immunization Advisory Committee.
“This is about making sure no family in Illinois is left wondering if they can protect themselves against preventable serious illness,” Pritzker said in the release.
The executive order also calls for the IDPH and partner agencies to issue guidance in plain language, continue to support back-to-school vaccination efforts and work with local health departments and providers to reach families statewide.
The order was issued in response to several federal actions, according to the release, including the dismissal of top CDC administrators and members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices board, as well as the updated COVID-19 vaccine approvals.
COVID-19 symptoms 2025
Those with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe or even life threatening. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and can include the following:
COVID-19 cases
Through the week ending on Sept. 6, 10.8% Americans tested were positive for COVID-19, according to the CDC’s latest data. This was a decrease from the prior week (11.2%).
During the same period, 0.8% of all deaths in the United States were attributed to COVID-19, up from 0.6% the week before, and 1.5% cases resulted in an emergency room visit, down from 1.7% in the previous week.
Illinois COVID-19 cases
According to the most recent CDC wastewater data for the week ending Sept. 6, Illinois has a “moderate” level of COVID-19 viral activity, compared to the national average of “very high” viral activity.
Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Illinois residents can schedule a COVID-19 vaccine at pharmacies, such as Walgreens or CVS, local clinics and doctor’s offices.
Mary Walrath-Holdridge contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois fights back against 2025 COVID-19 vaccine restrictions. See where to get your shot
Reporting by Hannah Hudnall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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