COVID-19 Vaccination Rights for Employees and Employer Obligations Ordinance Safely Repealed

Today, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) Chief Operating Officer Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck announced the safe repeal of the COVID-19 Vaccination Rights for Employees and Employer Obligations Ordinance (Sections 42-120 through 42-126 of Chapter 42 Human Relations, Article V).

Approved on June 24, 2021 by the Cook County Board of Commissioners and effective on July 1, 2021, the COVID-19 Vaccination Rights for Employees and Employer Obligations Ordinance protected and promoted the public health, safety, and welfare of Cook County residents by establishing the rights of employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and the obligations of employers not to retaliate against employees for exercising their right to be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The ordinance states that “Unless otherwise provided by Ordinance, this Article shall be repealed of its own accord, without further action from the County Board, when the Director of the Cook County Public Health Department makes a written determination that the threat to public health posed by COVID-19 has diminished to the point that this Article can safely be repealed” (Section 42-125 (c)). 

As the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, and the COVID-19 disaster proclamation for the state of Illinois expired on May 11, 2023, Dr. Hasbrouck has determined that the threat to public health posed by COVID-19 has diminished and Chapter 42 Human Relations, Article V, COVID-19 Vaccination Rights for Employees and Employer Obligations (Sections 42-120 through 42-126) can be safely repealed.

The department of public health stresses the importance of remaining up to date on all recommended immunizations. The latest vaccination information can be found on the following web page: BoostUpCookCounty.com. 

Employees who experience harassment or discrimination are advised to contact the Cook County Commission on Human Rights.