Gov. Kathy Hochul signed two bills Friday aimed at protecting vaccine access in New York, framing the legislation as a response to what state leaders described as growing anti-vaccine rhetoric and federal efforts undermining established public health guidance.
The legislation expands the state’s authority over vaccine recommendations and insurance coverage while reducing New York’s reliance on federal vaccine advisory standards.
One of the new laws requires health insurers in New York to cover vaccines recommended not only by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, but also vaccines endorsed by the state health commissioner using generally accepted medical standards and guidance from recognized scientific organizations.
The second bill removes references to ACIP from several sections of New York law governing school immunization requirements, Medicaid coverage and vaccine administration authority.
The legislation also expands pharmacists’ authority to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 2 through 18. Under previous state law, pharmacists could only administer those vaccines to adults.
“When public health comes under attack by an anti-science administration, New York fights back,” Hochul said in a statement announcing the bill signings.
The Democratic governor directly tied the legislation to concerns about the Trump administration and criticism of federal vaccine policy positions associated with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said the bills reinforce New York’s commitment to evidence-based public health policy at a time when misinformation surrounding vaccines continues spreading nationally.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said the legislation is intended to ensure vaccine policy in New York remains grounded in scientific consensus rather than political pressure.
Republican lawmakers were not quoted in the state’s announcement.
The bills were introduced earlier this year in coordination with legislative leaders and passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature before being signed Friday.
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