Federal Childhood Vaccine Executive Order: What Illinois Public Health Professionals Should Know

August 13, 2026

Advocacy Updates

Key Takeaways

The executive order creates a new federal vaccine framework.

The order establishes "Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations" and divides vaccines into three categories:

• Recommended for all children
• Recommended for certain high-risk groups
• Recommended through shared clinical decision-making between families and clinicians

It narrows the federal universal vaccine recommendations.

Vaccines protecting against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, HPV and varicella remain universally recommended. Influenza, COVID-19, hepatitis A and hepatitis B are among the vaccines shifted toward shared clinical decision-making or risk-based recommendations.

It calls for changes to how some vaccines are administered.

The order calls for moving toward separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines once single-disease products become available domestically. It also calls for childhood immunizations to be administered at separate medical visits to the maximum extent feasible. Separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are not currently available in the United States. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has noted that separating the MMR vaccine is not supported by scientific evidence and that requiring additional visits would cost families additional time and money without a demonstrated health benefit.

It encourages states to review immunization requirements and directs further federal action.

The order advises states and territories to review school immunization requirements in light of the new federal framework. It also directs federal agencies to take action related to federal legal obligations involving parental authority, religious freedom, disability accommodations and, where applicable under federal law, religious and medical vaccine exemptions. The executive order does not itself change Illinois law or school immunization requirements.

Additional federal action is expected.

The order directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines, to present plans to the president within 90 days addressing vaccine options, timing and sequencing, safety monitoring and research. Those plans could lead to additional changes to the federal childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule.

What Hasn't Changed in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Public Health continues to endorse the 2026 American Academy of Pediatrics Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, a position unanimously supported by the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee.

IPHA supports IDPH's continued use of evidence-based immunization guidance and its commitment to providing Illinois families and public health professionals with clear, reliable information as federal recommendations evolve.

School immunization requirements for the 2026-27 school year remain unchanged. Under Public Act 104-0439, signed into law in December 2025, state-regulated insurers are required to cover vaccines recommended by IDPH, regardless of changes to federal recommendations.

Illinois also continues to report strong childhood vaccination rates. Nearly all vaccines required for school meet or exceed the state's 95% goal immunization rate. During the 2025-26 school year, 96.8% of Illinois students were vaccinated against measles.

What IPHA Is Watching

The Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee will reconvene in September to review recommendations ahead of the fall respiratory season.

IPHA will also monitor:

• Any additional federal guidance or implementation of the executive order
• Illinois legislative activity related to vaccine exemptions or school immunization requirements
• Any subsequent guidance from IDPH and the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee

As federal and state recommendations evolve, clear and accurate information remains important for families, providers and public health professionals. IPHA will continue to share updates with members as additional guidance becomes available.

Resources

• IDPH: IDPH Reaffirms Existing Child Immunization Schedule Based on Science
• 2026-27 Illinois School Immunization Requirements
• Federal Executive Order

IPHA supports IDPH's continued use of evidence-based immunization guidance and its commitment to providing Illinois families and public health professionals with clear, reliable information as federal recommendations evolve.

For questions, contact Melissa Graven, RN, BSN, Associate Executive Director of HIV/STI Programs and Immunize Illinois Coalition Manager, at 217-522-5687 or [email protected].