|
A9440 was introduced and referred to the Assembly Health Committee on 3/14/2024. It is sponsored by Representative Amy Paulin.
S8417 was introduced into the Senate and referred to the Senate Health Committee on 1/29/2024. This bill is sponsored by Senator James Skoufis.
A9440 and S8417 require college students to get Hepatitis B vaccines.
A9440 and S8417 amend the public health law Chapter 45, under Section 2165, in relation to current immunization requirements of certain post-secondary students against Hepatitis B, underlined as follows:
d. The term "immunization" means an adequate dose or doses of an immunizing agent against measles, mumps [and], rubella, and hepatitis B which meets the standards approved by the United States Public Health Service for such biological products, and which is approved by the state department of health under such conditions as may be specified by the public health council.
If passed, A9440 or S8417 shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
NVIC OPPOSES A9440 and S8417 because students who wish to decline Hepatitis B vaccines for conscientious reasons will no longer be eligible to attend post-secondary schools in NY. Students who object to vaccination due to religious beliefs or those who are medically exempt from vaccination are exempt from these requirements per Chapter 45, Article 21, Title 6 (§2165) of New York State statutes. Despite the available exemptions, this still puts undue pressure on students to take a vaccine they may not want or need. NVIC is opposed to all vaccination mandates and the expansion of existing mandates. Vaccines are pharmaceutical products that carry a risk of injury and death and should not be a condition for school attendance. An improvement on this bill would be to prohibit all vaccine mandates and allow individuals to make their own fully informed decisions on vaccination.
|