Illinois
CALLS TO ACTION
SCHOOL VACCINE MANDATES AND YOUR OPTIONS
What Exemptions does your state offer?
Medical and Religious
What is the process to get a religious exemption in your state?
Parents or legal guardians who are requesting a religious exemption to immunizations must use the Certificate of Religious Exemption to Required Immunizations and/or Examinations Form here.
As a reminder separate forms must be used for each child.
Who can add vaccines to the state's childhood schedule, the department of health or the legislature?
Illinois Department of Public Health
What health care can minors consent to on their own?
A minor is a person under the age of 18
Health care personnel may provide confidential contraceptive counseling and services and pregnancy testing to minors without parental consent: if the minor is married, a parent or pregnant; if the minor is referred by a physician, a clergyperson or a planned parenthood agency; or where a serious health hazard would be created by the failure to provide these services.
They can also provide Emergency Contraception (EC)
Minors aged 12 and over who may have come into contact with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) may consent to confidential testing, treatment, and counseling for and prevention against an STI. Minors aged 12 and older may consent to confidential testing, treatment and counseling for HIV. Minors may also consent to anonymous HIV testing.
A minor may consent to health services associated with criminal sexual assault or abuse. Such services include emergency contraception, pregnancy tests, and counseling and treatment for STIs
Minors aged 13 and older may give written consent to a hospital to release evidence and information from the kit to law enforcement officials. If medical personnel have reasonable cause to believe that the minor is an abused child under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, they are required to report the abuse to the Department of Children and Family Services.
Minors aged 12 and older may consent to confidential outpatient counseling and treatment if they or a family member abuses drugs or alcohol.
Minors aged 12 and over may consent to counseling or psychotherapy on an outpatient basis for mental health. If the minor is under 17, counseling or psychotherapy sessions are initially limited to eight in number without parental consent; after that, additional sessions without parental consent are available only if the provider determines that obtaining such consent would be detrimental to the minor’s well-being.
A minor may receive emergency care without the prior consent of a parent or guardian when obtaining such consent is not reasonably feasible without adversely affecting the minor’s health.