Illinois health officials have issued new guidance on flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccinations for all age groups to ensure broad access and protect residents during the upcoming colder months, amid evolving federal advice.
Illinois has issued new fall respiratory virus guidance as state health officials try to keep influenza, RSV and COVID-19 vaccination access broad heading into the colder months. The Illinois Department of Public Health said the advice, adopted by its immunisation advisory committee on 9 September 2026, covers children, adults and pregnant people and is meant to give residents science-based direction at a time of shifting federal recommendations.
According to the department, the latest guidance keeps flu vaccination recommended for everyone aged six months and older. It also sets out RSV protection for pregnant people between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, infants under eight months entering their first RSV season without maternal protection, children at higher risk aged eight to 19 months, and older adults at increased risk, including those aged 50 to 74 and all adults 75 and older if they have not previously been vaccinated.
The COVID-19 advice is similarly broad for younger children and adults, with the department recommending vaccination for children aged six months to 23 months, certain children aged two to 18 years, pregnant people and those planning pregnancy, people who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding, and all adults 19 and older. Director Sameer Vohra said Illinois residents and health care providers deserved “credible, transparent, and science-based immunisation guidance”, while committee chair Janet Jokela said the panel’s work reflected evidence-based decision-making.
The department also said Vohra had issued a standing order intended to make COVID-19 vaccination easier to obtain at more locations. Illinois has already moved in recent months to anchor its vaccine policy in state and professional guidance, including adopting the American Academy of Pediatrics’ child and adolescent schedule earlier this year and supporting routine adult and maternal immunisation schedules endorsed by major medical groups. The department said residents who are uninsured or underinsured can use local health departments or the state’s vaccine locator to find no-cost options, while its seasonal respiratory illness dashboard tracks COVID-19, flu and RSV activity across the state.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
