Over 2.4 Million Girls Vaccinated Against HPV in Sindh: A Milestone in Public Health, In a bold and necessary drive, over 2.4 million girls across Sindh province have received the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine so far — a landmark achievement in Pakistan’s fight against cervical cancer. This ambitious campaign, launched as part of the national immunisation initiative, reflects a deep public health commitment to reducing cancer risks among young women.
Background & Why It Matters
Human Papillomavirus is the main cause of cervical cancer, which ranks among the leading cancers affecting women in Pakistan. Vaccinating girls before exposure to HPV — typically between ages 9 and 14 — can prevent most cases of cervical cancer later in life.
Sindh became the first province in Pakistan to integrate the HPV vaccine into its routine immunisation schedule as part of the September 2025 drive. The province aims to protect approximately 4.1 million girls aged 9–14 across its 30 districts.
Campaign Execution & Progress
The vaccination campaign ran from 15 to 27 September 2025 (later extended) using a combination of school-based sessions, mobile teams in underserved areas, fixed health centers, and community outreach sites. Over 8,000 trained vaccinators were mobilised across the province.
Within four days, more than 550,000 girls had already received the vaccine, despite facing hurdles such as vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. By mid-campaign, officials claimed coverage nearing 60 percent in several districts. In some areas, coverage was stronger, while in Karachi the uptake lagged behind with only about 33 percent coverage recorded in early days.
To ensure full reach, the drive was extended beyond its initial timeline, especially to reach girls who missed earlier slots. Catch-up immunisation and integration into routine immunisation (starting 2026) are planned next steps.
Challenges Faced
- Misinformation & Hesitancy: Many parents remain concerned that the vaccine could affect fertility, be unsafe, or is part of foreign conspiracies. This has been especially impactful in urban hubs like Karachi.
- Low Awareness: Despite decades of health campaigns, knowledge around cervical cancer, HPV, and preventive vaccination is low in many communities.
- Access & Reach: Girls out of school or living in remote districts are harder to reach. Mobile teams and community outreach are essential but logistically complex.
- Urban Disparities: In Karachi, vaccine uptake is lowest, largely due to resistance amplified on social media and in influential circles.
Impact & Significance
This massive vaccination coverage is no small feat. Protecting over 2.4 million girls means substantially reducing future cervical cancer burden in Sindh — and, by extension, in Pakistan as a whole. The campaign marks Pakistan’s entry into over 150 countries that offer HPV vaccines in their public health programs.
With strong vaccine efficacy (up to 90 % protection when given at the right age) , each dose now administered can translate into many prevented cancer cases and saved lives.
What’s Next & Recommendations
- Strengthen Awareness & Counselling: Use targeted education for parents, teachers, religious/community leaders to counter myths. Multimedia tools (e.g. animated videos) are already being deployed.
- Catch-up Campaigns: Continue follow-ups in areas with low uptake, and offer the vaccine to girls who missed the initial dates.
- Routine Integration: From 2026 onward, HPV vaccination will become part of Sindh’s regular immunisation offerings for 9-year-olds.
- Monitor & Evaluate: Track coverage, safety, public perception, adverse events, and long-term cancer incidence to refine future interventions.
- Promote Screening & Treatment: Vaccination must be complemented by cervical screening (Pap smears, HPV tests) and timely treatment for existing disease.
