The Illinois Department of Public Health released updated recommendations on COVID-19 vaccines, urging all adults and many children to get the shot.
The state’s recommendations differ from federal guidance. The state recommendations came days after Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine advisers chose not to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for anyone at the federal level, instead saying people could make individual decisions about whether to get it.
Dr. Marielle Fricchione, a pediatric infectious disease doctor with RUSH University Medical Center, leads the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee. She joined the WGN’s Evening News at 4 pm. on Friday, Sept. 26, to further explain what the state health officials are recommending in opposition to the federal government.
“So, the federal government was trying to pull back some access to the COVID vaccine, and what the Illinois committee decided to do was to keep it open to everyone over six months of age,” Fricchione said. “We think that’s really important because there are still severe diseases out there, there are still people getting sick and dying from COVID. Even though it is less than previous years, this is still protection that a lot of people need.”
Watch the entire interview in the video player above.
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