NEW YORK — Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing a law that would make it a criminal offense to fraudulently administer or sell the coronavirus vaccine in New York.

The governor said in a press conference on Monday that he is signing an executive order stating that if any entity falsifies who or what they are, or if any entity does not follow the vaccine distribution guidelines on who is eligible for the vaccine, that provider will lose their license.

Furthermore, the governor said he will be proposing a law with criminal penalties to the state legislature.

"If there is fraud or fraudulent sale or fraudulent vaccination, that is very serious," Cuomo said. "That provider will lose their license – period. … It's a crime, in my opinion. … This vaccine can be like gold to some people, and if there's any fraud in the distribution – you're letting people get ahead of other people or ... selling the vaccine – you'll lose [your] license, but I do believe it should be criminal, and I'm going to propose a law to that effect."

So far in New York state, health care workers and people living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Cuomo on Monday expanded New Yorkers who are eligible to receive the vaccine to include home care and hospice workers, ambulatory centers staff, individuals administering the vaccine, including local health department staff, as well as staff and residents in other congregate settings.

Approximately 2.1 million residents are now eligible to be vaccinated. The state began vaccinations last month with COVID-19 vaccinations from Pfizer and Moderna and has administered 274,700 doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.