ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on Friday that expands access to COVID vaccines. It lets licensed pharmacists administer shots, and in some cases prescribe them, to New Yorkers aged 3 and up without a doctor's prescription.

The executive order, available to read at the bottom of this story, temporarily modifies state law until October 5, and can be renewed every 30 days until the Legislature reconvenes in January. It's supposed to make it easier for New Yorkers to get vaccinated, either through a patient-specific order or a non-patient-specific regimen prescribed by a physician or certified nurse practitioner.

According to Hochul, New York sees about 600 new COVID cases per day. She noted that cases typically surge to strain the health care system ove

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