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8h ago

Pakistan Extends HPV Vaccination Drive After Low Uptake Fueled by Misinformation

Provincial extensions seek to recover from low uptake driven by viral false claims.

Pakistan's first HPV vaccine campaign aimed to administer jabs to 11 million girls -- but only around half the intended doses were administered
Misinformation and conspiracy theories plagued the first rollout of a vaccine to protect Pakistani girls against cervical cancer
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The HPV vaccine, approved by the World Health Organization, is a safe protection against cervical cancer and has a long history of saving lives more than 150 countries

Overview

  • The campaign launched on September 15 targets about 11.7 million girls ages 9 to 14 with a single-dose shot to prevent cervical cancer.
  • By the original September 27 end date, officials reported only about half of intended doses administered and widespread parental refusals that in some cases prompted school closures.
  • Sindh has pushed its deadline to September 30, while Islamabad is considering a three- to seven-day extension, and Punjab and Azad Kashmir are set to prolong their drives.
  • Fact-checkers found a viral video claiming girls fainted after vaccination to be unrelated to the rollout, as a prominent cleric-politician’s infertility claim circulated without evidence.
  • Pakistan is using Ceolin, a WHO‑prequalified single-dose vaccine supplied through Gavi with major donor financing, and officials have staged public vaccinations, including the health minister’s daughter, to demonstrate safety.