Crawford-Backed Bill Defends Science, Reaffirms Support for Evidence-Based Immunizations

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Working to defend public health and modern medicine against pseudoscience touted from Washington, state Rep. Mike Crawford, 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.

“To say the federal administration’s unfounded claims about vaccines are dangerous is an understatement. This isn’t just about protecting the hard-working doctors, scientists, and researchers who have confirmed the safety and effectiveness of vaccines time and again. This is about protecting our neighbors, our family, our children,” said Crawford.

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.

“I’m proud to live in a state where vaccine access is protected from the outlandish conspiracy theories of RFK Jr. and his underqualified colleagues. The uncertainty they are trying to create around science and healthcare has no place in Illinois, and this bill has made sure of that.”

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