NYC Requires Vaccine Education For Students, Parents

NEW YORK — The New York City Council passed a package of legislation Tuesday aimed at expanding vaccine education, improving emergency response during extreme cold, and increasing oversight of services for vulnerable residents.

The legislation requires city agencies to distribute information about vaccines to public school families and develop a long-term public education campaign focused on childhood immunization.

Officials cited declining vaccination rates and rising cases of preventable diseases as the basis for the measures.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccination coverage among kindergarteners declined nationwide during the 2024–2025 school year.

Measles outbreaks have also spread across the country, with nearly 1,800 confirmed cases in 37 states as of last week.

“At a time when the misinformation and disinformation about vaccines coming from the federal government is literally putting lives in danger, it’s incumbent on the City Council to take the lead in setting the record straight,” Council Speaker Julie Menin said.

One bill, sponsored by Shekar Krishnan, requires the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in collaboration with the Department of Education, to develop materials explaining how vaccines work, their safety, and where families can access required immunizations.

Schools must distribute the materials to parents of all public school students, including those in 3-K and pre-K programs.

A second measure, sponsored by Eric Dinowitz, requires the health department to create and implement a public education plan by Jan. 1, 2027, focused on the benefits of vaccines for people 18 and younger. The plan must consider recommendations from major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“Parents should not have to navigate a maze of confusion and misinformation when it comes to their children’s health,” Dinowitz said. “The science on vaccines is settled. They are safe, effective, and save lives.”

The Council also approved several resolutions, introduced by Lynn Schulman, urging state lawmakers to expand who can administer vaccines, align state vaccine policy with national medical guidance, and ensure insurance reimbursement for vaccination costs.

“The federal government has made clear it will not protect our children from preventable diseases — so New York State must,” Schulman said.

Separately, the Council passed legislation to improve coordination during Code Blue emergencies, when temperatures drop to dangerous levels.

From Jan. 19 through Feb. 9, the city recorded sustained freezing temperatures. During that period, at least 18 people were found dead outdoors, and city data indicated 13 deaths were linked to hypothermia.

One bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, requires the Department of Homeless Services to provide hospitals with guidance and materials during Code Blue and Code Red alerts. The measure calls for coordination to identify patients experiencing homelessness at discharge and connect them to shelter and services.

A companion bill also requires the agency to make efforts to provide supplies to patients experiencing homelessness upon discharge.

Another measure, sponsored by Lincoln Restler, mandates the creation of a real-time tracking system for outreach to people living on the streets. The system will log engagements, services offered, and housing placements, with quarterly reports to the Council.

Legislation introduced by Rita Joseph requires annual public reporting on warming centers, including locations, hours, staffing and usage.

The Council also passed a resolution sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams designating May 15 through June 15 as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month and June 7 as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day in New York City.

Additional measures addressed budget timelines, land use, tax exemptions, and contracting rules for food providers.

Key Legislation Passed By NYC Council

Vaccine Education & Public Health

• Introduction 260-A (Shekar Krishnan)
  Requires the Department of Health and Department of Education to create and distribute vaccine information to all public school families, including 3-K and Pre-K.
• Introduction 693-A (Eric Dinowitz)
  Mandates a citywide public education campaign on childhood and adolescent vaccines by 2027.
• Resolution 273-A (Lynn Schulman)
  Urges the state to allow dentists to administer certain vaccines, including flu and COVID-19 shots.
• Resolution 425 (Lynn Schulman)
  Calls for vaccine policy to align with national and international public health recommendations.
• Preconsidered Resolution (Lynn Schulman)
  Urges state action to ensure full insurance reimbursement for vaccination costs.

Code Blue & Homeless Services

• Introduction 726-A (Shaun Abreu)
  Requires DHS to provide hospitals with guidance and coordinate care for homeless patients during extreme weather alerts.
• Introduction 727-A (Shaun Abreu)
  Requires efforts to provide supplies to homeless individuals upon hospital discharge.
• Introduction 778-A (Lincoln Restler)
  Creates a real-time tracking system for outreach to unsheltered individuals and mandates quarterly reporting.
• Introduction 790-A (Rita Joseph)
  Requires annual public reporting on warming centers, including locations, staffing, and usage.

Awareness & Health Designation

• Resolution 396 (Jumaane Williams)
  Designates May 15–June 15 as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month and June 7 as Awareness Day in NYC.

Food & State Policy

• Resolution 183-A (Amanda Farías)
  Calls on the state to allow food contracts to go to qualified vendors within 10% of the lowest bid.

Land Use

• St. Francis Prep Commercial Overlay (Linda Lee district)
  Brings an existing school sign into zoning compliance.

Budget & Finance

• Preconsidered Introduction (Linda Lee)
  Extends deadlines tied to the Fiscal Year 2027 executive budget process.
• Introduction 791 (Linda Lee)
  Updates the assessment structure for the Fulton Street Business Improvement District.
• Multiple Preconsidered Resolutions (Linda Lee)
  Establish tax exemptions (Article XI and Article V) for residential buildings across several council districts.