Over three million parents refuse cervical cancer vaccination

ISLAMABAD: Over three million vaccine refusal cases have been reported during the first-ever national HPV vaccination campaign’s nine days, sources said on Saturday.

The HPV vaccination campaign for prevention of cervical cancer in women has been started from September 15 in Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and it will continue until 27.

A single-dose vaccine to be administered targeting 13 million girls aged 9 to 14 during the campaign.

Sources said that total 30,40,475 cases of the HPV vaccine refusal have been reported during the nine days of the campaign so far.

Most of the vaccine refusal cases have been reported in Punjab, where 21,95,793 people refused the vaccine.

In Sindh, 6,59,997 parents refused HPV vaccination to their girls, according to sources.

In Azad Kashmir 1,27,229 and in Islamabad 58,456 parents refused HPV vaccination.

The national HPV vaccination campaign has a set target of 1,17,29,787 girls’ vaccination during the drive, sources said.

Earlier Director General Health Services CDA, Dr. Irshad Ali Jokhio, noted that the HPV vaccine will be added to Pakistan’s basic immunization program, while Dr. Rozeena Khalid from WHO said cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Pakistan, with a mortality rate higher than breast cancer.

She emphasized that vaccinating adolescent girls is critical to reducing future cases.

With this campaign, Pakistan will become the 150th country to introduce the HPV vaccine.

Health leaders described the initiative as a historic step to protect adolescent girls, prevent cervical cancer, and secure a healthier future for communities.