New York Activists Mobilize to Stop Vaccine Mandate Expansion

Statewide Zoom call on Thursday to discuss Governor Hochul's efforts to expand vaccine requirements

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

New York activists are organizing a statewide Zoom call on Thursday, February 12th at 8pm to discuss Governor Kathy Hochul's efforts to expand vaccine mandates through the state budget and new legislation. The activists, including representatives from Autism Action Network, Children's Health Defense, and My Kids My Choice, are urging the public to get involved and fight the proposed changes that would make it harder to opt out of vaccines and give the state more control over the vaccine schedule.

Why it matters

This effort by the Hochul administration and state Democrats is seen by activists as a major threat to parental rights and medical freedom in New York. They argue the proposed changes would cement the state's power over vaccine requirements, eliminate exemptions, and make it nearly impossible for parents to have a say in their children's healthcare decisions.

The details

The activists claim the Hochul administration and state lawmakers are using the budget process and a flurry of new bills to try to solidify control over the vaccine schedule and eliminate recent reforms that have made it easier for parents to opt out of certain shots. They say the proposed changes would create new mandates, make medical exemptions harder to obtain, and give the state access to adult vaccination records to enforce current and future requirements.

  • The statewide Zoom call is scheduled for Thursday, February 12th at 8pm.
  • Vaccine Injury, Vaccine Rights Day is planned for Tuesday, March 24th at 10am in Albany.

The players

Kathy Hochul

The current Governor of New York who is pushing for the expansion of vaccine mandates.

John Gilmore

Representative from the Autism Action Network, one of the groups organizing the Zoom call.

Michael Kane

Representative from Children's Health Defense, one of the groups organizing the Zoom call.

Rita Palma

Representative from My Kids My Choice, one of the groups organizing the Zoom call.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They want the Governor and her selected vaccine industry allies to remain firmly in control of the vaccine schedule.”

— Michael Kane, Representative, Children's Health Defense (substack.com)

“They want to keep denying that vaccine injuries ever happen, or that vaccine-injured people exist.”

— Michael Kane, Representative, Children's Health Defense (substack.com)

What’s next

The activists are urging the public to attend Vaccine Injury, Vaccine Rights Day in Albany on March 24th to fight the proposed vaccine mandate expansions.

The takeaway

This battle over vaccine requirements in New York highlights the ongoing tensions between the state's efforts to expand public health measures and the concerns of activists who argue these changes infringe on parental rights and medical freedom. The outcome could have significant implications for vaccine policies across the state.