This executive order has thus suspends some state laws and permits medical professionals, including dentists and podiatrists, to prescribe vaccines after a brief training period.

"If an enormous number of flu vaccines came into the state because of an epidemic and an emergency and we need to administer them as widely as possible, we have expanded the health care personnel who would be deemed to have the authority to administer the flu vaccine," Paterson told reporters.

Federal health officials are now allowing the state to order twice as many doses of the H1N1 vaccine.

The location where one can be vaccinated can be found out by visiting the NYC Flu Locator Website.

The governor said that his declaration is a precaution and is not in response to a large increase in the number of H1N1 cases.

The Mayor of the state, Michael Bloomberg, responded to Thursday’s announcement by asking Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley to align the city’s health code with the recommendations made by the governor.

A technical declaration of an emergency in the city has also been included despite the fact that there has not been much flu activity reported in the five boroughs this season.

A health emergency was declared by Governor David Paterson for New York State today despite concerns about the rising number of H1N1 flu cases.