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New York lawmakers are considering legislation that would expand how vaccine mandates are determined in the state by requiring the Health Commissioner to base requirements on recommendations from not only federal advisory bodies but also private medical trade organizations and other scientific groups.
A9648 and S8853 would allow state regulations to rely on guidance from organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the American College of Physicians (ACP), in addition to the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and other entities.
By broadening the sources used to justify vaccine mandates, the bill could make it easier to adopt additional requirements through regulatory action.
This proposal raises serious concerns about conflicts of interest, transparency, informed consent, and the growing role of government in deeply personal medical decisions.
The Senate version of this legislation has already passed. The Assembly now represents the critical opportunity to stop this expansion of mandate authority.
Please act TODAY.
TAKE ACTION
Contact members of the Assembly Health Committee and your Assemblymember and urge them to OPPOSE S8853.
Find your New York legislators here:
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/
Phone calls are most effective, but emails help too.
SAMPLE SCRIPT
“Hello, my name is ___ and I’m a constituent. I’m calling Assemblymember_____to urge him/her to OPPOSE S8853.
This bill would allow vaccine mandates in New York to be based on recommendations from private medical trade organizations that have documented financial relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers.
When organizations that receive industry funding help shape policies that increase demand for pharmaceutical products, it raises serious conflict-of-interest concerns and undermines public trust.
Please vote NO on S8853.
Thank you.”
TALKING POINTS
- Allowing vaccine requirements to be based on a broader set of organizational recommendations makes it easier for additional mandates to be adopted through regulatory processes rather than open legislative debate.
- Groups such as AAP, AAFP, ACOG, and ACP receive funding, sponsorship, or collaborative support from pharmaceutical manufacturers and industry-aligned partners. These relationships raise legitimate concerns about whether recommendations may be influenced by financial incentives rather than purely independent scientific judgment.
- Mandates should not be driven by organizations that benefit from higher vaccination rates. When professional associations help shape policies that directly increase demand for products tied to their funding streams or institutional priorities, public trust in medical recommendations can erode.
- Vaccines, like all pharmaceutical products, carry risk. Individuals vary in genetics, immune response, health history, and susceptibility to adverse reactions. A one-size-fits-all mandate framework fails to account for this biological diversity.
- Informed consent requires voluntary decision-making. When access to education or services depends on compliance with medical interventions, consent becomes conditional rather than truly voluntary.
- Regulatory authority can expand faster than public oversight. Changes made through administrative rulemaking can be implemented more quickly and with fewer opportunities for meaningful public debate, making it easier for mandate policies to evolve without direct voter or legislative input.
- Trust in public health depends on transparency and independence. Families are more likely to engage with healthcare systems when recommendations are clearly free from financial conflicts and when participation remains voluntary.
MORE INFORMATION
A9648 — Bill text and status:
https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A9648
S8853 — Bill text and status:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8853
Read this article on the ever-expanding vaccine schedule:
https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/over-vaccination-in-humans/#gsc.tab=0
We do not want politicians to make medical choices for us..
Medical procedures must have choice