New York authorizes pharmacists to administer additional immunizations

ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill extending the authority of pharmacists and nurse practitioners to administer certain immunizations as of July 1. The bill comes after a surge in whooping cough cases in New York, which began in 2013.

Pharmacists and nurse practitioners can now administer shingles, meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough immunizations, in addition to administering influenza immunizations — formerly the only one they could provide.

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-N.Y.) authored the law.

"Allowing pharmacists and nurse practitioners to administer these vaccines will make it easier for a greater percentage of people to get immunized, and that ultimately, is the goal, to prevent as many people as possible from contracting these serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses," Paulin said.