New York governor issues order to bypass Trump administration's COVID vaccine limits

Source: Reuters

September 5, 2025 6:13 PM EDT Updated 9 hours ago


NEW YORK, Sept 5 (Reuters) - New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on Friday authorizing pharmacists in the state to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone who wants a shot, becoming the latest Democratic governor to try to countermand the Trump administration’s new limits on inoculations.

The order, which Hochul signed during a visit to an elementary school, is effective for 30 days, though the governor said she would extend it as needed until the state legislature meets in January and can consider a more permanent fix. “If you want your child to have a COVID shot, it should be available to you and covered by insurance,” she said. “Extreme times call for extreme measures.”

Under the leadership of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved new versions of the COVID vaccine only for Americans over 65 or those with certain underlying medical conditions. In past years, the shots have generally been available to anyone.

A spokesperson for CVS Health (CVS.N), which owns one of the largest pharmacy chains in the country, said it would "ensure COVID-19 vaccinations are available as soon as possible at all New York CVS Pharmacy locations" in accordance with Hochul's order.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/new-york-governor-issues-order-bypass-trump-administrations-covid-vaccine-limits-2025-09-05/