Albany, NY – Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-Westchester), Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, has introduced the Vaccine Integrity Act (A.9060/S.8496), legislation that would allow continued access to vaccines and ensure insurance coverage for vaccinations. Her bill, which authorizes various healthcare practitioners to administer immunizations recommended by existing New York State immunization advisory bodies, is in response to recent federal actions which have disrupted New York’s longstanding, reliable vaccine distribution system. “New Yorkers should be able to get vaccines easily and safely at their local pharmacies,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “The newly imposed federal barriers and the spread of vaccine skepticism put New Yorkers’ health at risk. My bill would ensure that New York State can continue to allow vaccines to be readily accessible to all New Yorkers at pharmacies without unnecessary obstacles.”

Most New Yorkers over the age of eighteen get their vaccines at local pharmacies, where they can simply walk in and receive an immunization. This approach has made vaccination convenient and accessible. Recent federal actions however have made it harder for people to get vaccinated in New York State. Under current NYS law, pharmacies can only provide vaccinations without an individual prescription if those vaccines have been recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP has historically provided guidance that New York and other states rely on to shape public health policy, vaccine schedules and insurance coverage.

The September 19th recommendation by ACIP that individuals should receive the COVID vaccine only after consulting a healthcare provider means barriers will exist.

Governor Hochul’s September 5 Executive Order expands COVID vaccine access in the short term, allowing pharmacists to administer vaccines to children as young as three. However, the Executive Order is valid for only 30 days, would need to be continually renewed monthly to maintain access, and only applies to the COVID vaccine.

The Vaccine Integrity Act creates a permanent legal framework which would allow New York State to rely on guidance from the New York State Immunization Advisory Council (IAC), the 21st Century Workgroup for Disease Elimination and Reduction (WDER), and any regional advisory body that New York joins, such as the Northeast Public Health Collaborative that New York State jointly established along with eight states in the region (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware) on September 15, in addition to ACIP. This would provide New Yorkers with reliable access to vaccines, even if federal guidance is disruptive or delayed.

Importantly, Paulin’s bill would require health insurance providers to cover any vaccines recommended by these state or regional committees, just as they currently cover ACIP-approved vaccines. This guarantees that residents can get the vaccines they need without facing financial barriers.

“My legislation provides a permanent solution that protects vaccine access, ensures insurance coverage, and maintains the convenience that pharmacies have provided for decades,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “Vaccine policies must be based on science, not misinformation, and they must expand access, not create barriers, in order to safeguard the health of New Yorkers.”

The legislation is sponsored in the State Senate by State Senator Michelle Hinchey.