ALBANY, NY (April 28, 2026) — The New York State Assembly has passed a legislative package aimed at safeguarding access to vaccines and promoting public health. This initiative was announced Tuesday by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin.
“Vaccines are foundational to public health and have long been a trusted and effective bulwark against harmful and deadly diseases, especially for our most vulnerable populations,” Heastie said. He emphasized that New York will continue to support proven science in the face of opposition from the federal administration.
Assemblymember Paulin highlighted the importance of the legislation, stating, “As our federal administration continues to undermine the long-trusted science behind lifesaving vaccines, it is critical that we take decisive action to ensure our communities remain safe and healthy.”
Legislative Measures
The package includes several bills. One, sponsored by Paulin, allows the New York State Department of Health to recommend immunizations and permits pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to children as young as two. Another bill requires certain college students to be immunized for Hepatitis B.
Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh, supported legislation requiring healthcare providers to report adult vaccinations to state or city immunization registries. “Ensuring that New Yorkers can keep track of their immunization records is essential in promoting public health overall,” McDonald said.
Further measures include a bill requiring children attending camps to have all school-age immunizations and legislation extending liability protections to healthcare providers administering vaccines per state guidelines.
Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal commented on the need for state-level action: “Healthcare must be rooted in fact and research, and I firmly believe that the states must act as the bulwark against the deadly and anti-science policies emanating from Washington, D.C.”
Additionally, the package mandates commercial health insurance to cover certain immunizations without cost-sharing, as highlighted by Assemblymember Erik M. Dilan, who expressed gratitude to Governor Hochul and Speaker Heastie for their leadership.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
Have information about this story? Email robertcox@talkofthesound (preferred) or contact via WhatsApp: +353 089 972 0669.