Pakistan’s first cervical cancer vaccination drive achieves 42.7% coverage in 11 days
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first-ever cervical cancer vaccination campaign has successfully vaccinated 5,010,425 girls, achieving 42.7% of its overall target, according to official data released on the 11th day of the drive.
The nationwide campaign, which aims to vaccinate 11,729,787 girls, is underway across 36 districts of Punjab, 30 districts of Sindh, 10 districts of Azad Kashmir, and 2 districts of Islamabad.
Provincial coverage breakdown
- Punjab: 3,162,626 girls vaccinated
- Sindh: 1,762,521 girls vaccinated
- Azad Kashmir: 57,805 girls vaccinated
- Islamabad: 27,473 girls vaccinated
Officials noted that while overall progress is encouraging, 28 union councils reported zero coverage and 135 union councils recorded less than 10% coverage, prompting health authorities to intensify outreach efforts.
Minor side effects reported
Health officials confirmed that 30 minor cases of vaccine reactions were reported during the campaign. All affected girls have since recovered after receiving medical care, reassuring parents about the vaccine’s safety profile.
A critical step in preventing cervical cancer
The campaign marks a historic public health milestone for Pakistan, where cervical cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Experts emphasize that early vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most effective ways to prevent the disease.
Public health authorities continue to urge parents to get their daughters vaccinated, highlighting that the vaccine is safe, effective, and available free of cost in the current campaign.
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