Prairie State Wire

At a press conference in Wheeling, Governor JB Pritzker joined leaders from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), along with local school officials and medical professionals, to highlight the importance of immunizations as students return to classrooms for the new academic year. The event coincided with National Immunization Awareness Month.

Governor Pritzker addressed families, emphasizing the role of vaccinations in maintaining public health. “August is National Immunization Awareness Month—a time to remind ourselves of the importance of staying up to date on childhood vaccinations,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As our classrooms come back to life and our kids get back to learning and playing with one another, it’s essential that everyone take this safe and effective step to protect their health.”

The press conference was held at the health center serving Community Consolidated School District 21. This facility provides health services for students across 12 elementary and middle schools in the district, which is one of 60 similar centers statewide.

IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra spoke about the necessity of routine physicals and immunizations before school starts. “Back-to-school physicals and timely immunizations are an essential part of giving children the tools they need to thrive and succeed in school,” said Dr. Vohra. “As a pediatrician and a parent, I know firsthand how important these checkups and shots are for kids to start the school year off right. These physicals allow families the opportunity to discuss health challenges and find the right resources for their kids to grow and develop appropriately. Getting up to date with your immunizations allows children to avoid serious illness and keep their classmates and teachers safe, too. If you haven’t gotten your physical, now is the time to contact your health care provider or take advantage of back-to-school clinics in your community.”

Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent of Education, also underscored vaccine safety: “Vaccines are one of the safest, simplest, and most effective tools we have to strengthen student attendance and to protect our children—and everyone around them,” he said. “As we head back to school, we urge families to make immunizations and health exams a top priority to ensure we’re setting our students up for a healthy, successful school year.”

According to state officials, two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine provide high levels of protection—97%—against these diseases. When measles was detected in southern Illinois earlier this year, IDPH responded quickly by targeting areas where vaccination rates were below recommended thresholds through strategic communications efforts that reached more than 2.5 million people.

Immunization efforts were cited as key factors in limiting both cases and duration during this outbreak.

However, officials noted that national vaccination rates have declined over recent years amid growing skepticism about vaccines from some public figures—including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—and following trends seen during previous federal administrations. Last academic year’s national kindergarten MMR vaccination rate was 92.5%, compared with 95.2% five years ago; Illinois’ rate stands at approximately 92%.

Illinois agencies continue outreach efforts across communities through programs such as Vaccines for Children as well as mobile clinics provided by IDPH partners like CIMPAR during summer months.

Medical experts reiterated that severe side effects from vaccines remain rare while unvaccinated children face higher risks from diseases like measles—which can cause serious complications including brain inflammation or pneumonia.

Children who do not meet required immunization or physical exam standards may be excluded from attending classes during outbreaks.

Resources for parents include information on available vaccines at https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/immunization.html; guidance on requirements for school entry at https://dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/files/publications/school-immunization-requirements-2025-26.pdf; dashboards showing local coverage rates at https://dph.illinois.gov/data/vaccination-coverage/school-vaccination-coverage.html; data about publicly funded vaccines through Medicaid at https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/immunization/vfc-program.html; forms used by physicians during back-to-school exams at https://www.dhs.state.il.us/onenetlibrary/12/documents/Forms/il444-4737.pdf; information about disease outbreaks at https://dphstage.g13.iad1.nile.egovcloud.com/data/measles-outbreak-simulator-dashboard.html; as well as details on ongoing outreach efforts via mobile clinics through partners such as CIMPAR at https://www.cimpar.com/mobile-units.