Over 3 million parents refuse the HPV vaccine in Pakistan

As Pakistan launched its first HPV vaccine drive to protect girls against cervical cancer, over three million cases of vaccine refusal have been recorded within the first nine days.

Pakistan has launched a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer. The drive began on September 15 across Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and will continue until September 27. Health teams are administering a single-dose vaccine to girls aged 9 to 14, with a target of reaching 11.7 million. The overall goal is to cover nearly 13 million girls during the campaign.

However, refusals have posed a major challenge. Official figures reveal that more than 3 million cases of refusal have been reported in just nine days. Punjab has recorded the highest number with over 2.1 million refusals. Sindh follows with around 659,000, while AJK and Islamabad reported 127,000 and 58,000 refusals respectively.

Health officials have stressed that the campaign is a milestone for the country, as Pakistan becomes the 150th nation to introduce the HPV vaccine. They noted that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Pakistan, with a mortality rate even higher than breast cancer. Experts say early vaccination is the most effective way to reduce future cases and protect women’s health.

Director General Health Services CDA, Dr. Irshad Ali Jokhio, confirmed that the HPV vaccine will soon be included in Pakistan’s basic immunization program. Meanwhile, WHO representative Dr. Rozeena Khalid emphasized that vaccinating adolescent girls is essential to preventing thousands of deaths in the future. Health leaders have called the initiative a historic step, urging parents to support the campaign and ensure their daughters receive the vaccine. Authorities are also focusing on awareness drives to address concerns and reduce vaccine hesitancy.