THE CITY - NYC News reported on September 25, 2025, that significant confusion among patients and pharmacists is complicating the autumn rollout of the updated COVID-19 vaccine in New York. The challenges follow a change in federal FDA regulations that limited vaccine access, prompting a state-level response to ensure availability.
nyacp.org reported, In early September, Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order, effective for at least 30 days, to counteract the federal changes. This order allows pharmacists to prescribe and administer the 2025-2026 COVID shot to any person aged three and older without requiring a separate doctor's prescription. Despite this, pharmacies in New York City continue to experience uncertainty, partly due to conflicting federal and state messaging. This has resulted in practical issues where patients may still need to affirm eligibility on pharmacy websites to book an appointment. The state is pursuing a long-term legislative solution to protect immunization access.
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