Sanford earns recognition from American Cancer Society
| December 8, 2023 |
| Contact: Kristen Beat Sanford Health Media Relations 605-366-2432 / Kristen.Beat@sanfordhealth.org |
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Sanford Health has been nationally recognized by the American Cancer Society and National HPV Vaccination Roundtable for its efforts in getting kids ages 9-and-up the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The Age Nine Champion Award denotes Sanford’s commitment to increasing vaccination rates across its footprint.
Ideally, boys and girls receive the HPV vaccine between ages 9 and 12, before they’re exposed to the virus. Sanford Health promotes HPV vaccination as part of annual well child visits. HPV vaccination provides safe, effective and long-lasting protection against cancers caused by HPV.
“By implementing a program to start vaccinations at age nine throughout our system, we are offering our patients the best protection against HPV caused cancers as they age. The HPV vaccine works best when we give it to younger children before they are exposed to HPV,” said Andrea Polkinghorn, lead immunization strategist at Sanford Health. “85 percent of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime, so the childhood vaccine is an important step toward staying protected and preventing future cancers. Sanford is proud to start the conversation about prevention tools, helping families make an informed choice to vaccinate.”
The American Cancer Society and National HPV Vaccination Roundtable champions the efforts of health systems across the nation to raise HPV vaccination rates and prevent future cancers.
For more information about the HPV vaccine, visit sanfordhealth.org.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization serves more than one million patients and 201,000 health plan members across 250,000 square miles. The integrated health system has 46 medical centers, 2,800 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 170 clinical investigators and research scientists, 186 Good Samaritan Society senior living centers and world clinics in nine countries around the globe. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
###
