Posted 08/17/2026

You may have heard that the CDC changed vaccine recommendations this year. This is real and it's ongoing, and it's created a lot of confusion for families.

Here's the clarity you need: Illinois has officially adopted the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 immunization schedule. In February 2026, the Illinois Department of Public Health formally endorsed the AAP schedule based on the recommendation of the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee, and IDPH reaffirmed that endorsement again this August. So in our state, the guidance your pediatrician follows and the guidance the state follows are the same.

The AAP schedule was built on decades of safety data and has been endorsed by the American Medical Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and more than a dozen other major medical organizations. It continues to recommend routine immunization against hepatitis A and B, RSV, influenza, rotavirus, and meningococcal disease. These are the vaccines your child's pediatrician is almost certainly using.

The practical thing to know: talk to your child's doctor about their specific immunization plan. Your pediatrician knows your child's age, health history, and individual risk. That conversation is where the real clarity happens.

For school compliance, follow what's on the state form. School immunization requirements have not changed for the 2026 to 2027 year, and your provider will know the difference between what's required for school and what's recommended for full protection.

October 15 is the Illinois school immunization deadline. 

Beyond immunizations, Illinois also requires school physicals for specific grades. Here's what families with school age children need to know (and what they'll be asking you about):

Physical exams required by the Illinois Department of Public Health for:

• Preschool or early childhood programs (before entry)
• Kindergarten
• 6th grade
• 9th grade
• Any student new to Illinois schools, regardless of grade

Key point for families: A sports physical does not satisfy the school physical requirement for kindergarten, 6th, or 9th grade. They must use the official Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination form. 

Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule: United States, 2026: Policy Statement 

All About the AAP Recommended Immunization Schedule