SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers passed two-dozen bills during their annual fall veto session that ended Friday, including a measure that will empower the state’s Department of Public Health to issue vaccine guidelines amid federal uncertainty.

House Bill 767 would allow IDPH Director Sameer Vohra to issue state-specific guidelines while granting more authority to the Immunization Advisory Committee – a group of doctors, nurses and public health professionals who offer guidance to the director.

“This bill makes important changes that both codify the role of trusted experts in our vaccine recommendation process and ensure science-based vaccine access through Illinois-regulated insurance plans,” Vohra said in a news release.

The bill builds on an executive order Gov. JB Pritzker issued

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