Democrats in the State Senate want to expand protections around vaccine access.<\/p>\n
They plan to advance a slate of legislation this week intending to do just that, and while the package includes measures around insurance coverage and recommendations, the messaging is clearly a response to the Trump administration and Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.\u2019s policies and commentary around vaccines.<\/p>\n
The bills expected to be passed Wednesday include:<\/p>\n
S.7025A: Authorize Registered Pharmacy Technicians to give vaccines, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Cooney.\u00a0
\nS.8334A: Require Coverage of COVID-19 vaccine and Other Established Vaccinations after federal recommendations changed over the summer, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes.\u00a0
\nS.8853: Set standards around vaccine requirements for children, sponsored by Sen. Shelley Mayer.\u00a0
\nS.8496C: Expand vaccine authorization power beyond the federal advisory committee\u00a0 on immunization practices to include other state and local entities, sponsored by Sen. Michelle Hinchey.\u00a0
\nS.5706: Allow nursing students to administer certain vaccines, sponsored by Sen. James Skoufis.\u00a0
\nS.5340A: Allow medical assistants to administer vaccines, sponsored by Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky.\u00a0
\nS.5852: Require providers be reimbursed for the full cost of vaccinations, sponsored by Sen. James Skoufis.<\/p>\n
While Gounardes sponsors the COVID-19 bill, he stressed the importance of the entire package.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an incredibly important time for New York to set clear guidelines and standards to calm the public and explain to the public what the science around vaccinations is and what is the appropriate vaccination schedule for both you and your children,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Spectrum News 1 reached out to Republicans on the Senate Health Committee for comment and they declined to comment. The bills would also have to pass in the state Assembly and be signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in order to become law.<\/p>\n
It comes as Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins has been expressing a desire to get legislation finalized in response to Trump\u2019s immigration policy.<\/p>\n
The Senate majority has made it clear they intend to chart their own path despite the ultimate need for a three-way agreement\u00a0between the Senate, Assembly and Gov. Hochul on a set of policies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stewart-Cousins had said last week that a package could be expected as soon as this week, after forming a \u2018working group\u2019 to inform the upper chamber\u2019s response to Hochul\u2019s immigration proposals.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had members meeting and we now have recommendations I have received,\u201d she said at the time. \u201cI believe we will be able to have something that we can put forward in the next week or so.\u201d<\/p>\n Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie last week said the Assembly would be looking for a three-way agreement.<\/p>\n While progress has been made in the past week in ironing out certain details, it appears there is still work to be done.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gounardes said we likely won\u2019t see that package this week.<\/p>\n