New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will sign an executive order allowing New Yorkers to receive a COVID-19 jab at pharmacies within the state without needing a prescription. “Your family is my fight. In the absence of federal leadership, I’m going to make sure New Yorkers can access the COVID-19 vaccine,” Hochul wrote. “If you want your child to have a COVID shot, it should be available to you. And it should be covered by insurance,” Hochul said in a video posted to X. “What I’m doing now is signing an Executive Order, because extreme times call for extreme measures. I don’t understand why you won’t let families have the choice to protect their children’s health,” she continued. Check it out: Your family is my fight. In the absence of federal leadership, I’m going to make sure New Yorkers can access the COVID-19 vaccine. pic.twitter.com/MQRdQ1nphR — Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) September 5, 2025 “In the wake of relentless uncertainty and political attacks on science coming out of Washington, Governor Hochul is taking action to protect New Yorkers. She will sign an Executive Order allowing pharmacists to prescribe and administer COVID-19 vaccines, so families who want protection can get it quickly, safely, and close to home,” a statement from a spokesperson for Hochul said, according to ABC News. “This temporary order will ensure seamless access while the Governor works with the Legislature on a long-term solution to safeguard access to preventive care and vaccines,” the statement added. For patients 3 years of age or older, the executive order does the following: Allows pharmacists to prescribe and order COVID-19 vaccines. Authorizes pharmacists to administer vaccines. Allows physicians and nurse practitioners to either prescribe or give general orders for pharmacies to administer COVID-19 vaccines. A new Executive Order from @GovKathyHochul will allow pharmacists in New York to prescribe, order, and give the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines. New Yorkers will not need a prescription from a doctor to get the updated vaccine. Learn more: https://t.co/OLXf0Fxetf pic.twitter.com/OtQ7qtDDBU — nychealthy (@nycHealthy) September 5, 2025 More from ABC News: On Thursday during his hearing, Kennedy claimed that anyone can get COVID-19 vaccines at their pharmacy for free, however, pharmacies are being selective due to the limbo of federal regulations. The FDA has approved the updated shots for only older and high-risk Americans, and the CDC vaccine panel is set to meet to discuss potential recommendations in a few weeks. Amid the regulatory uncertainty, some pharmacies have said that access to the shots may vary state-by-state and may require a prescription. “By signing this EO, Governor Hochul is making it clear that when Washington Republicans play politics with public health, New Yorkers will still be able make their own health care decisions and get the care they need from trusted providers in their community,” Governor Hochul’s spokesperson said. Last week, CVS limited the availability of COVID-19 jabs to patients in 16 states and the District of Columbia. CVS Limits Availability Of COVID-19 Jab In Over A Dozen States The 16 states affected were Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously announced the emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 jab was “rescinded.” Emergency Use Authorization For COVID-19 Jab “Rescinded,” RFK Jr. Says “In a series of FDA actions today we accomplished all four goals. The emergency use authorizations for Covid vaccines, once used to justify broad mandates on the general public during the Biden administration, are now rescinded,” RFK Jr. explained. “FDA has now issued marketing authorization for those at higher risk: Moderna (6+ months), Pfizer (5+), and Novavax (12+). These vaccines are available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors,” he continued. “The American people demanded science, safety, and common sense. This framework delivers all three,” he added. I promised 4 things: 1. to end covid vaccine mandates. 2. to keep vaccines available to people who want them, especially the vulnerable. 3. to demand placebo-controlled trials from companies. 4. to end the emergency. In a series of FDA actions today we accomplished… — Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) August 27, 2025 The New York Times shared additional details: The precise language of the executive order had not been finalized by late Thursday afternoon, but it would authorize pharmacists to administer Covid vaccines to anyone over 3 years of age, without a prescription, according to an administration official. A spokeswoman for CVS said that in New York, its pharmacists would for now require a prescription before administering the latest Covid vaccine. “Right now, we can only administer the updated Covid-19 vaccine to patients — regardless of age — if they have a prescription from an authorized prescriber (that includes 65+),” the CVS Health spokeswoman, Amy Thibault, wrote in an email. It was not clear how the governor’s order would affect the company’s stance. In an interview, Brad Hutton, a former state health official, said it remained to be seen to what degree insurance plans would cover vaccinations administered by pharmacists.