NEW YORK (WBEN) — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday told reporters she would consider a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for children in New York if cases continued to rise.
“If I start seeing infection rates going up, hospitalizations going up, more children being affected, I will have no choice,” the governor said of a possible mandate.
Currently, children between the ages of 12 and 17 are eligible to receive two doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. While there is no mandate in place, the governor has already issued an order that masks be worn inside all school buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
The state has also hosted multiple vaccination events at schools, camps and other areas to get eligible children vaccinated.
Data from the New York Department of Health showed 63.6% of children aged 12 to 15 statewide have already received at least one dose of the vaccine.
While Hochul said she wants to continue to boost those numbers, she’s not considering a mandate yet, but one could be put in place before the end of the current school year.
“Right now, the numbers are good, we can get the kids voluntarily vaccinated – parents will hopefully do the right thing and I'll keep an eye on that situation,” she said.
Hochul said she is also laying the groundwork to get COVID-19 vaccines to those aged 5 to 11, as the Pfizer vaccine is expected to be approved for that age ground early next week.
“We've had regular communication with all the providers. So, it's going to be various places that parents can go to, to have their children vaccinated as soon as it's available,” she said.
More than 370 providers have pre-ordered doses from the state, including pediatricians, hospitals and other public health providers.
Hochul said her administration is also speaking with schools about what they plan to do to get the word out.
“We've reached out to all the school districts, saying, ‘What are your plans? Can you help us get these in schools?’ And so far, 350 school districts intend to hold vaccination events,” the governor said.
In nearby New Jersey and Connecticut, lawmakers and healthcare providers are also preparing to get the vaccines to younger children beginning next week.
New Jersey has ordered 205,000 doses of Pfizer’s vaccine and Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said doses will be available the day after it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Meanwhile, Connecticut expects to have nearly 100,000 doses ready for young children as early as Nov. 4.
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