Hochul signs legislation authorizing pharmacists to administer additional vaccines recommended by CDC to patients 18 and older

Legislation S.4807-A/A.6476 authorizes licensed pharmacists to administer vaccines for Hepatitis A and B, HPV, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation S.4807-A/A.6476 which expands the immunizations that licensed pharmacists can administer to patients who are 18 years or older. Under the new law, pharmacists will be able to administer vaccines recommended by the CDC for hepatitis A and B, human papillomavirus, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. The new law also makes permanent the ability for licensed pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Immunizations are the best tool at our disposal for protecting public health, and we must implement every sensible measure to make vaccines widely available," Hochul said. "With this new law, we are expanding the locations where New Yorkers can go to get vaccines to protect their own health – and the health of their communities."

Hochul’s team said, “Studies show that pharmacist-provided immunizations increase overall immunization rates. Under current law, pharmacists in New York have been able to administer immunizations for influenza to adults and children, and for COVID-19, pneumococcal, acute herpes zoster, meningococcal, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis disease, as well as medications required for emergency treatment of anaphylaxis, to adults. The new law expands the list of immunizations that pharmacists can provide to adults, and requires pharmacists to report the immunizations to the State Department of Health.”