Oak Park parents can get their children vaccinated for free at Cook County clinics running through October, as health officials warn that the number of unprotected students across suburban Cook County has nearly doubled.

Nearly 12,000 suburban Cook County students lack protection against vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) said in a campaign it launched Tuesday, Sept. 15. That figure is up sharply from 6,408 unprotected students in the 2014-15 school year.

The new campaign, called "Every Vaccine Counts," pairs public outreach with free back-to-school vaccination clinics across suburban Cook County. The clinics serve children ages 6 months through 18 years. The Illinois Department of Public Health is funding the effort.

CCDPH had already hosted 60 clinics this season as of the launch, according to the department. Additional clinics are planned in communities where vaccination rates are lower and families face barriers to care.

"Getting children vaccinated shouldn't depend on where a family lives or whether they can easily get to a doctor's office," said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health. "By bringing vaccination clinics directly into communities, we are working to make it easier for families to get the protection their children need."

Measles cases surge nationally

The campaign arrives as measles spreads at levels not seen in decades. The CDC reported 3,294 confirmed U.S. measles cases in 2026 as of Sept. 11, Axios reported. Closer to home, CCDPH warned of possible measles exposures at O'Hare International Airport Terminal 5 on March 24 and March 26.

The "Every Vaccine Counts" campaign covers vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella, whooping cough, polio, hepatitis, chickenpox, meningitis, pneumococcal disease, and HPV-related cancers.

How Oak Park families can participate

Families should bring their child's vaccination record, if available, to any clinic. Community organizations and schools can request a CCDPH vaccination clinic through the department's website.

Specific clinic dates and locations are listed on the CCDPH website at the "Every Vaccine Counts" page. Clinics run through October.