ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on Friday that expands access to COVID vaccines. It lets licensed pharmacists administer shots, and in some cases prescribe them, to New Yorkers aged 3 and up without a doctor’s prescription.
The executive order, available to read at the bottom of this story, temporarily modifies state law until October 5, and can be renewed every 30 days until the Legislature reconvenes in January. It’s supposed to make it easier for New Yorkers to get vaccinated, either through a patient-specific order or a non-patient-specific regimen prescribed by a physician or certified nurse practitioner.
According to Hochul, New York sees about 600 new COVID cases per day. She noted that cases typically surge to strain the health care system over fall and winter, coinciding with other seasonal viruses like respiratory syncytial virus and influenza. She also expressed disgust over vaccine measures from Florida.
The governor said the order declares a statewide disaster emergency, counteracting actions that are “contrary to public health” from the federal government by limiting access to or availability of COVID vaccines. For example, they pulled over $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccines, once considered a signature achievement of President Donald Trump’s first administration. And while the Food and Drug Administration recently approved updated COVID vaccines, it limited recommendations to people over 65, or to younger people whose health conditions designate them as high risk.
Plus, the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—with mostly new membership under Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—hasn’t issued new guidance for the 2025-26 COVID vaccine. In response, major pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens stopped immunizing certain groups—like children aged 3 to 17, pregnant people, and adults under 65 without other health problems—for COVID.
Hochul said people don’t have the time to get a prescription, a requirement representing an “artificial roadblock” for New Yorkers who want to get vaccinated before the weather drives everyone into enclosed indoor spaces. According to Hochul’s office, New York is collaborating with other states in the Northeast to develop public health recommendations for vaccines and disease monitoring.
The governor’s office also said that the New York State Health Department will issue a standing order for the vaccine, which lets pharmacists prescribe vaccines off-label. NYSDOH commissioner Dr. James McDonald will also issue detailed guidance for pharmacies, clinicians, and other vaccine administrator.
McDonald called pharmacies a “vital part of our vaccination network.”
The Community Pharmacy Association of New York State applauded Hochul in a press release for taking action to ensure easy access to the vaccine. CPANYS President Mike Duteau encouraged all New York residents to look into getting vaccinated “so they are protected during this respiratory season.”
CPANYS also said that insurance companies in New York State should cover the cost of the vaccines. Hochul agreed, saying that many insurers will provide coverage for the shot because prevention will cost them less than treatment would.
Two separate proposals could create a legislative solution for vaccine access, with both aiming to separate the state from federal vaccine guidance. Introduced by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Micah Lasher, S7823A/A8383A lets pharmacists administer immunizations based on recommendations from the NYSDOH Commissioner, in addition to or instead of the recommendations from ACIP.
The bill would also remove the requirement that immunizations against meningococcal disease follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to a joint statement from the bill’s sponsors, this legislation would give NYSDOH “long-term stability and independence” to protect public health.
Meanwhile, S8495 from State Senator John Liu would let pharmacists administer vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration through a statewide order from the NYSDOH commissioner. This would happen if the vaccine is recommended by the New York State Immunization Advisory Council or identified by NYSDOH as a way to address a public health emergency, outbreak, or chronic disease. According to Liu, his bill would let New Yorkers “sidestep federal inaction.”
The order cites a 2023 review of studies involving millions of kids that linked a two-dose vaccine schedule with lower risks of infection, symptomatic infection, hospitalization, and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Hochul said she wants to preserve the status quo because the feds “decided to ignore the health needs of our families.”
Take a look at the executive order below: