Vaccines, screenings, and preventative care are essential to avoiding the development or escalation of acute and chronic conditions as well as healthcare inequities. According to the CDC, vaccinations will prevent more than 21 million hospitalizations and 730,000 deaths among children born in the last 20 years, and for every $1 invested in vaccines, an estimated $10.20 is saved in direct medical costs, click here.
Public Act 104-039 (effective August 1, 2025) updates Illinois’ college immunization standards to require institutions of higher education to verify that students comply with vaccination requirements set by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The law aims to improve enforcement and consistency across campuses, ultimately reducing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases among young adult populations.
Implications for Patient Care: Family physicians frequently provide immunizations for college-bound patients and must document compliance with IDPH requirements. Stronger verification by institutions may streamline processes for families and clinicians while reinforcing public confidence in vaccination standards. Physicians should anticipate increased requests for immunization records and guidance from young adult patients transitioning into higher education settings, positioning family medicine as a critical touchpoint for prevention and public health.
Also, in response to fluctuations of federal guidance and regulation regarding vaccines and immunization, Illinois enhanced its regulatory recommendations in the fall of 2025:
Through an executive order signed on September 12, 2025, Illinois established the Statewide Vaccine Access Initiative to ensure consistent, transparent, science-based vaccine guidance and access across the state. This order empowers the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to issue standing orders allowing eligible providers in clinical settings (including physician offices and pharmacies) to administer recommended vaccines, and directs ongoing collaboration with local health departments, schools, community health centers, and other partners to support vaccine delivery statewide.
Building on that framework, on September 23, 2025 IDPH released specific fall respiratory virus vaccine guidance and a statewide standing order for COVID-19 vaccines, formally adopting recommendations from the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee (IL-IAC) and endorsing CDC immunization schedules for routine, non-seasonal vaccines. This guidance includes recommendations for influenza vaccination for all persons ≥ 6 months, RSV immunization for designated high-risk age groups, and broad recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination across age and risk categories, while reaffirming use of the CDC schedules for other routine immunizations. See also Immunization Recommendations for 2025-2026 Respiratory Virus Season
Public Act 104-175 (effective Jan. 1, 2026) requires that entities offering genetic testing provide patients with access to qualified genetic counseling services, ensuring an appropriate counselor-to-patient ratio. The law is intended to address disparities in access and ensure patients receive accurate, contextualized information about their health risks as genetic medicine becomes a larger part of care delivery.
Implications for Patient Care: Family physicians are often the first to order or interpret genetic tests, and this law reinforces the importance of ensuring patients understand complex results within the context of their overall health. By requiring access to genetic counselors, the legislation supports collaborative care that enhances informed decision-making and helps family physicians manage preventive strategies for patients at elevated risk. Even when counseling is delivered outside the practice, family physicians remain central in integrating those findings into long-term care plans and broader family health discussions.