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The pill, Plan B One-Step and generic counterparts, must be made available to women of all ages within 30 days of Friday’s ruling, even without a prescription. Prior to the ruling, girls under 16-years-old could only get Plan B with a prescription.
“This is an important breakthrough for women,” Paulin said. “This protects women against unwanted pregnancies. We certainly don’t want teen pregnancies, but we haven’t given them a tool to deal with it until now.”
Korman’s ruling ends a long-standing battle between pro-choice advocates and politicians that have voted to keep the pill unavailable for reasons that are political, not medical, Paulin said.
“The federal government has finally put politics aside and addressed the issue of unwanted teen pregnancy in a meaningful way,” she said. “When the FDA approved the drug for over the counter use, there was no medical reason given as to why it couldn’t be given to younger women.”
A bill has to allow the drug to be given to younger women has been bounced around the state and nation for several years. Gov. George Pataki vetoed a bill in 2005 that would have allowed women of all ages to receive the pill.
The State Assembly passed the bill in 2006, 2007 and 2008, but it has not passed since. The bill was introduced again this year and is still waiting to get out of committee from both houses.
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