Davis-Backed Bill Issues Guidelines for and Support of Immunizations

SPRINGFIELD, Ill — Working to defend public health and modern medicine against pseudoscience touted from Washington, state Rep. Lisa Davis, D-Chicago, helped pass a new law to establish immunization guidelines and require Illinois Department of Public Health recommended (IDPH) vaccines be covered by health insurance.

“Simply put, vaccines should be rooted in science, and remain affordable and accessible to all who wish to vaccinate themselves and their family,” said Davis.

House Bill 767 establishes transparent, evidence-based immunization guidelines for Illinois and reaffirms the state’s commitment to defending science. To keep vaccines accessible and affordable to those who seek them, the bill will require vaccinations recommended by IDPH to be fully covered by state-regulated health insurance plans.

Additionally under the measure, experts will make up a new Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee to ensure all recommendations are rooted in science. With heightened claims from the federal government and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grossly linking vaccines to autism, House Bill 767 critically ensures that immunization recommendations are being made by medical experts to thwart sickness and diseases for unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals—not politicians out of Washington.

“The assertion that vaccines cause autism is simply ableist,” Davis said. “Folks on the spectrum are kind, hardworking, valued members of our communities. Autism is not a disease that needs to be cured, and Republicans in Washington should be held accountable for falsely claiming otherwise.”

House Bill 767 was signed into law Tuesday and is effective immediately, with insurance changes to be effective January 1 of next year.