The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recognized NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi for its fight against HPV-related cancers.

The human papillomavirus is most commonly spread through sexual contact. The CDC says almost everyone who is sexually active will get HPV at some time in their life if they don’t have the vaccine.

“There are many, many different types of HPV,” says Dr. Kathy Porder. “The HPV vaccine prevents them from getting the nine most common cancer-causing strains."

Dr. Porder is one of the doctors at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi working to tackle the cancer-causing types of HPV. In five years’ time, the hospital is one of only 10 nationwide recognized by the CDC for its vaccination rate – with 70 percent completion among preteen boys and girls. The nationwide rate is 43 percent. The vaccine can be given from age 9 to 27, according to Porder.

"It took a lot of convincing because parents are very hesitant," says pediatric head nurse Sonia Aviles. "They consider the HPV vaccine like giving their children the green light to have sex. It’s not complicated - it just prevents cancer. Nobody wants cancer." 

The hospital’s doctors and nurses say the vaccine is free there, even if a patient doesn’t have insurance.

Click here for more information on making an appointment.