NEW YORK — Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on Friday morning, enabling New Yorkers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at pharmacies throughout the state without needing a prescription.
It comes after the federal government recently limited who can get a shot this year.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved updated versions of the COVID vaccine, but these are currently only authorized for individuals aged 65 and older or those with underlying medical conditions.
It prompted big pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens to say they would issue the latest COVID vaccine if someone has a doctor’s prescription.
Hochul stated that the executive order is a declaration of “a disaster in the state of New York due to federal actions related to vaccine access,” ensuring that people can access the vaccine immediately.
“This means you can visit a pharmacy without the hassle of going to a doctor’s office for a prescription,” Hochul explained. “With this signing, pharmacists will now be authorized to administer COVID shots to those who opt to get them.”
Hochul mentioned that this executive order requires renewal every 30 days. She also noted that the state legislature plans to establish a formal long-term solution when it reconvenes early next year.
The announcement is a reprieve for many New Yorkers, but it has also now sparked confusion.
The health care turmoil was evident on Thursday at the U.S. Capitol, where Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal vaccine skeptic, encountered rigorous questioning from the Senate Finance Committee.
Medical groups and several Democrats in Congress have called for Kennedy to be fired, and his exchanges with Democratic senators on the panel repeatedly devolved into shouting, from both sides.
Some Republican senators also expressed unease with his changes to COVID-19 policies.
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