Daywatch: Lawmakers pass bill to strengthen Illinois’ ability to set its own vaccine guidelines

Good morning, Chicago.

Lawmakers have passed a bill to strengthen Illinois’ ability to make its own vaccine guidelines — legislation that follows months of tumult over vaccines at the federal level.

The bill expands the authority of the Immunization Advisory Committee, which is a group of doctors and other experts and leaders that makes vaccine recommendations to the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. The bill also requires that insurance companies in Illinois cover vaccines recommended by the director of the state health department.

“This really is a reaction from the state of Illinois, given the politicization of public health policy at the federal level,” said chief bill sponsor Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Highwood. “We’re building out an infrastructure so Illinois can pr