Committee on Health meeting
March 5, 2026, 10:00 AM
The committee held an oversight hearing on childhood vaccine access in New York City and heard four bills addressing sodium warning icons, health information distribution, and childhood vaccination tracking. It also heard three resolutions urging federal and state action on mpox vaccines, a state health bill, and access to reproductive health services.
What was discussed
- New Health Commissioner testifies on childhood vaccine access amid federal threats Dr. Alister Martin, in his second week as Health Commissioner, testified with Dr. Tristan McPherson (Acting Medical Director of Disease Control) and Dr. Bindy Crouch (Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Immunization) on protecting childhood vaccine access. He described the federal Vaccines for
- How is the city guarding vaccine supply against federal policy shifts? Chair Lynn Schulman questioned DOHMH about federal risks, including WHO surveillance, H5N1 bird flu, insurer coverage pledges, and an HHS decision memo she said downplayed post-licensure safety infrastructure. Commissioner Martin flatly rejected the memo's characterization of vaccine-injury and
- How does the city reach uninsured children and low-coverage neighborhoods? Chair Schulman asked how DOHMH reaches uninsured and underinsured children and Brooklyn zip codes where under 30% of children are vaccinated. Commissioner Martin and Dr. Crouch said insurance covers just over 75% of children and the Vaccines for Children program fills gaps, that all city hospital
- How is the city countering the 'war on science' at school entry? Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, a nurse, questioned DOHMH on school-entry vaccination and coordination with public-health partners, calling federal anti-vaccine rhetoric a 'war on science.' Commissioner Martin and Dr. McPherson said school entry is a key catch-up point, that the department leans
- DOHMH responds on the vaccine-access and school-information bills Chair Schulman walked through the legislation with the panel. On Int 0693, on childhood and adolescent vaccinations, Commissioner Martin said the work described is 'literally our job' and welcomed partnership while flagging details to work through. On a bill requiring a web-based portal of
- Independent Budget Office on the fiscal risk of federal vaccine-policy changes Cassandra Stuart of the Independent Budget Office presented a March 2 report on how federal changes to vaccine policy could affect New York City, providing context on reportable infectious diseases in children. Asked by Chair Schulman, she said funding has been relatively consistent over time but
- Public-health experts and providers back stronger vaccine access Public testimony backed protecting childhood vaccine access. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, a former senior CDC official, submitted extensive written testimony and lent his voice to the issue. Andrea Jacobson of EmblemHealth, a nonprofit health plan serving over 2 million New Yorkers, described its
Agenda
8 items
- T2026-0807 Oversight - Access to Childhood Vaccines in New York City. Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0196-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to modifying the sodium warning at designated food service establishments Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0260-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to distributing information on vaccines to parents of students in New York city schools Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0547-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to amending the icon for added sugar warning labels and the amount for civil penalties, and to repeal subdivision b of section 17-199.18 in relation thereto Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0693-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to childhood and adolescent vaccinations Hearing Held by Committee
- Res 0243-2026 Resolution calling on the United States Department of Health and Human Services to increase the number of mpox vaccines available and to prevent future outbreaks by ensuring that the number of vaccines sent to New York City reflects its proportion of nationwide cases Hearing Held by Committee
- Res 0272-2026 Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.9077 and a Senate companion bill, requiring pharmacies to offer appointments for Covid-19 and other vaccines without a prescription and based on nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines and best Hearing Held by Committee
- Res 0273-2026 Resolution calling on the New York State Assembly to pass A.3892, the New York State Legislature to pass S.6744A/A.3894A, and the Governor to sign S.4548/A.3892 and S.6744A/A.3894A, legislation authorizing dentists to administer influenza vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines, human papillomavirus vaccines Hearing Held by Committee