Norwich Health Center Earns a Place on State HPV Vaccination Honor Roll

Our caregivers at Bassett Health Center Norwich have earned a place on New York State's 2023 HPV Vaccination Honor Roll. The "Regional HPV Honoree" distinction is given to medical centers with the greatest vaccination rate percentage point increases in each of ten regions in New York State. Bassett's Norwich Health Center was one of two recipients in the Southern Tier Region. The HPV Vaccination Honor Roll Award Program is sponsored by the NYS HPV Coalition, an organization founded by the American Cancer Society and New York State Department of Health.

HPV vaccination is important in preventing certain types of cancer. There are over 200 known strains of HPV, or human papillomavirus. The vaccine protects against those strains found to cause six different types of cancer, including head and neck cancers. HPV is so closely linked to cervical cancer that countries that have ardently pursued vaccination programs anticipate virtually eliminating new cases of cervical cancer from their population in the near future. HPV has also become the leading cause of oral cancer in the United States, especially as tobacco use has decreased in recent years. Each year there are approximately 2,700 new cases of HPV-related cancers in New York State.

The HPV vaccine is most effective when administered to children between the ages of 9 and 12. After the age of fifteen, full vaccination requires three shots instead of two.

This is not the first time Bassett Healthcare Network has earned a place on the HPV Honor Roll. Sidney Central School-Based Health and Unadilla Valley Central School-Based Health were similarly honored in 2021.

Congratulations to all the caregivers at Bassett Health Center Norwich for this recognition—and thank you for protecting the next generation from preventable cancer.