What Is the HPV Vaccine That’s Being Given to Over One Crore Young Girls in Pakistan?
TrustedPakistan.com (Islamabad) — From 15 September 2025, Pakistan has launched a national campaign to administer the HPV vaccine to girls aged 9 to 14 years, aiming to protect them from cervical cancer. Authorities say the vaccine will be given via injection.
Why Now and Who Is at Risk
Cervical cancer (cancer at the opening of the womb) can often be caught early through screening. But when diagnosis or treatment happens late, it becomes one of the most deadly cancers affecting women.
Pakistan’s Federal Health Minister, Mustafa Kamal, told the BBC that in the first phase, girls in Islamabad, Punjab, Sindh, and Azad Kashmir will be vaccinated from 15 until 27 September. Later, the campaign will move to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan.
Dr. Rashida Batool, District Health Officer (DHO) Islamabad, shared that about 5,000 women are diagnosed yearly with cervical cancer in Pakistan, and nearly 3,000 die from it. She said many women delay seeking medical help because symptoms are ignored or misunderstood.
What Is HPV and Who Will Get the Vaccine
HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is a group of viruses found in skin and mucous membranes. Experts say more than 70 percent of cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV. It’s the second most common cancer among women worldwide after breast cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the HPV vaccine works best when given before the virus infects someone. So vaccinating 9–14 year-old girls is ideal. In some cases, people with weakened immunity may need extra doses.
Coverage and Goals
- In this first stage, the target is to vaccinate 1.3 crore (13 million) girls in the 9-14 age group in Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, and Azad Kashmir.
- The long-term goal is to cover 1.8 crore (18 million) girls across the entire country.
Vaccinations will be provided in schools, basic health centres, and specific vaccination points. Parents, schools, local healthcare workers are all being involved.
Effectiveness, Safety, and Limitations
- Studies show the vaccine provides long-term protection, often 15-20 years, and in many cases lifetime protection.
- For older women or those already sexually active, protection may be less, but vaccine still offers benefits against future infections.
- Side effects are rare. Mild fever, redness at injection site are possible. Paracetamol can help with mild fever.
Challenges Being Tackled
- Misinformation and vaccine hesitancy have been major issues in past vaccination campaigns (e.g., polio, COVID-19).
- To address this, government says it has launched awareness campaigns before the vaccination rollout. They are involving media, parents, religious leaders, school teachers, influencers.
- Funding is partly from Gavi (the international vaccine alliance), with provinces contributing about 5%. Some provinces are delaying rollout for logistical or funding reasons.
What’s Next: When Will Other Regions Get Covered?
KP and Balochistan will join in the second phase, which is expected in the next one to two months. (Hamariweb.com) The government has indicated that all provinces have agreed in principle, but each has its own schedule based on resource readiness.
Why This Matters
- Early vaccination could reduce tens of thousands of deaths in the coming years.
- It protects young girls well before risk of infection increases.
- By working proactively, the campaign not only helps individual girls but supports stronger public health for families and communities.
