Gov. Quinn Signs Vaccine Bill in Rockford

Governor Pat Quinn signs a bill to lower the age restrictions at local pharmacies to allow more children to get vaccines.

Prior to the new law children had to be at least 14 years old to reverie vaccines from local pharmacies.  Now, kids as young as 10 will be allowed access to retail store pharmacies around the state.

The goal is to provide easy access to affordable healthcare.  Expanding the number of people and places that can provide service to families is expected to lower the price for vaccines that help prevent Influenza, Whooping Cough, and other diseases that are common among students.

Places like Target, Kroger, Walgreens and CVS will now be able to write prescriptions for kids as young as 10 and then administer the shot.

In 2012 there have been more than 13-hundred cases of Whooping Cough in Illinois, that's nearly as many as in all of 2011.  Experts say being proactive and getting vaccinated early will help limit the number of cases later this year.

Students in 6th and 9th grade are required to get vaccinated before they will be allowed to attend class.  Health officials expect 630-thousand new children will get the vaccine now that it's more readily available for younger kids.