CDPH Weekly Media Brief, 09/24/2026

Jump Ahead

• New Measles Exposures at Union Station
• Changes to Medicaid Eligibility
• Kennedy-King College Vaccine Clinic
• Healthy Chicago Podcast

Additional Measles Exposures at Union Station

CDPH has confirmed two additional cases of measles in domestic travelers who passed through Chicago's Union Station earlier this month. The following have been identified as public exposure locations:

• Union Station, 255 South Canal Street:
  • Thursday, September 10 from 10:25 am-3:30 pm
  • Saturday, September 12 from 8:45 pm-12:00 midnight
  • Sunday, September 13 from 1:40 pm-9:00 pm
• SpringHill Suites, 2357 South Wentworth Avenue:
  • Saturday, September 12 10:45 pm-Sunday, September 13 3:40 pm

If more information becomes available, CDPH will update the exposure location posting on our website.

People who may have been exposed to measles should:

• Monitor themselves for symptoms of measles.
  • ​​​​​​​Symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
  • After exposure to someone with measles, symptoms can take from 7 to 21 days to show up.
• People who develop symptoms of measles should stay home and away from others.
• Contact a health care provider by phone BEFORE going to a medical office or emergency department, unless you are experiencing a medical emergency. Special arrangements can be made for your evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection.

Given the continued increase in measles transmission in the U.S. and recent exposures at Union Station, people traveling through international or domestic transport hubs, including airports, train stations, and bus stations, should ensure they are vaccinated against measles. Vaccination is the best protection against measles. The MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine is available to all Chicago residents at no cost at CDPH's Immunization Clinics.

Federal Changes to Medicaid Eligibility

Due to federal legislation, changes to federal Medicaid eligibility are coming. These changes start on October 1, 2026, for certain noncitizens and January 1, 2027 for adults in the Affordable Care Act (ACA Adult) Medicaid "Expansion" coverage group. CDPH estimates that over 238,000 Chicagoans will be subject to work requirements and bi-annual redeterminations starting January 1, 2027.

Starting October 1, 2026, the following noncitizens will be ineligible for Federal Medicaid coverage:

• Refugees
• Asylees
• People granted withholding of deportation/removal
• Survivors of Trafficking with pending or approved T Visa
• Survivors of domestic violence who filed a VAWA self-petition (or who have an approved family-based immigration petition filed by a spouse/parent)
• Persons granted humanitarian parole for a period of at least one year
• Conditional entrants granted before 1980

Individuals can update their contact information and ensure their immigration status is updated with HFS through ABE Manage My Case, by calling HFS at 1-877-805-5312, or by calling the Immigrant Family Resource Program at 855-435-7693 for navigation support.

For more information, please visit the Health Alert Network notification sent out by CDPH.

Vaccine Event at Kennedy-King College

CDPH kicks off our fall City College family vaccination clinics this October! Join us Saturday, October 3 at Kennedy-King College (6301 S Halsted St, U Building) from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for no-cost COVID-19 and flu vaccines for the whole family. Everyone ages 6 months and over are recommended to get vaccinated.

CDPH Commissioner Dr. Garth Walker will be on-site to get his seasonal shots and radio personalities from WVON will be recording live from the event. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is encouraged. Register on the CDPH website.

Why get vaccinated now? It's your #1 defense against getting sidelined this season. Whether it's holiday gatherings, football games, or quality time with loved ones, don't let preventable illness keep you from the moments that matter.

See the full calendar of CDPH vaccine clinics to find one near you!

Healthy Chicago Podcast

As we recognize Suicide Prevention Awareness Month throughout September, Patricia T. Johnson (Public Health Administrator) and Mawiyah Coates (Public Health Administrator) discuss CDPH's Suicide Prevention Initiative; the Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) training program; and other resources, such as the 988 Lifeline, and activities, like the AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk on October 3, 2026.

If you or someone you know needs crisis support, help is available 24/7. Call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to chat.

Listen to the Healthy Chicago Podcast on the platform of your choice or watch the latest episode on Youtube.

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