Res 0448-2026

Whereas, According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), vaccines are the second highest expense for many pediatric practices behind only payroll; and Whereas, According to a study published in Academic Pediatrics in 2017, slightly less than half of all vaccines provided to children are purchased by pediatric and family medicine practices serving privately insured patients, facing prices per dose ranging from $21 for the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine to $178 for the 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine, alongside costs related to personnel, storage, insurance, and recovery due to inventory waste; and Whereas, These high costs have resulted in major financial concerns for practices, with 12 percent of pediatric practices and 23 percent of family medicine practices telling AAP that they had stopped purchasing vaccines and another 24 percent of pediatric practices and 26 percent of family medicine practices saying that they had seriously considered halting the purchase of vaccines due to these concerns; and Whereas; S.5852, introduced by Senator James Skoufis in the New York State Senate, and companion bill A.3839, introduced by Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and pending in the New York State Assembly, requires insurers to reimburse healthcare practices the full cost of providing vaccinations, including acquisition costs plus a minimum of 21 percent of the cost for shipping, handling, and storage, and administration costs including the cost of supplies, data entry, vaccine counseling, inventory management, and routine nursing activities; and Whereas, As vaccination rates continue to fall, with influenza vaccination rates among children aged 6 months to 17 years in New York City, according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, at only 32 percent at the midway point of the 2025-26 flu season, compared to 34 percent at the same time last year, and 38 percent midway through the 2021-22 flu season; and Whereas, As access points come under threat in New York, with the New York Times reporting that CVS New York was only offering COVID-19 vaccinations to individuals with a prescription in September of 2025; and Whereas, It is crucial that the backbone, as described by the AAP, of the vaccination infrastructure for children, the pediatric medical home, is able to continue providing vaccinations without suffering under undue financial strain; and Whereas, S.5852 passed in the New York State Senate and was delivered to the New York State Assembly as part of a package of vaccination legislation on March 4, 2026; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Assembly to pass A.3839, and the Governor to sign S.5852/A.3839, requiring insurance to reimburse the total direct and indirect practice expenses associated with vaccinations. JN LS 22413 3/26/2026