Governor Hochul works to ensure vaccine availability, while RFK Jr. criticizes this measure (Editorial Board Viewpoint)
In the heart of the United States, New York is taking a significant step forward in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Governor Kathy Hochul has issued an executive order, making Covid-19 vaccines available without a prescription for individuals over the age of 3 for the next 30 days.
This decision comes amidst growing concerns about the politicization of scientific guidance by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., under whose administration controversial health policies were implemented starting from February 2025. Kennedy's tenure has been marked by budget cuts, leadership changes, and the stacking of a vaccine approval panel with vaccine skeptics, raising sharp questions about his approach to limiting the availability of Covid vaccines.
The Food and Drug Administration currently recommends the shot only for people over age 65 or those with certain medical conditions that put them at high risk for complications from the virus. However, the recent move by Governor Hochul aims to broaden the eligibility criteria, including children over 3, healthy adults, and pregnant women.
The editorial board supports this initiative, as it is crucial to hold the line on science, public health, and a healthy future for children. New York's effort aligns with a coalition of Northeast states that will coordinate their vaccine recommendations, focusing on evidence-based recommendations and approaches on vaccination, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness.
It is important to note that many local people in New York have already volunteered for clinical trials that proved the Covid vaccine to be safe and effective. Dr. Stephen Thomas, an infectious disease physician with Upstate Medical University, was the lead principal investigator worldwide for a clinical trial for Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines.
However, it is not yet clear if pregnancy is considered a high-risk condition for Covid-19 vaccination. For questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, readers can reach out to Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion lead, at mmorelli@our website.
The removal of vaccine mandates for schoolchildren in states like Florida could lead to a resurgence of childhood diseases such as polio, diphtheria, smallpox, measles, tetanus, rubella, hepatitis, and influenza. As we move forward, it is crucial to remember the greatest public health achievement of our era - the near elimination of many childhood diseases through vaccination.
The editorial board consists of Tim Kennedy, Trish LaMonte, and Marie Morelli. Readers are encouraged to submit letters or commentaries in response to this editorial at letters@our website, following the submission guidelines. Let's continue to prioritise science, public health, and the wellbeing of our communities in these challenging times.
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