Sindh announces three-day catch-up campaign to boost cervical cancer vaccination coverage
KARACHI: The Sindh health department has announced a three-day catch-up campaign to vaccinate more eligible girls against cervical cancer after the province’s initial 12-day drive achieved only 59 percent coverage.
The original human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign was conducted from September 15 to 27 across Sindh, targeting school-aged girls to prevent cervical cancer — a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide.
Catch-up campaign dates and coverage
According to an official notification, the catch-up campaign will be held from September 29 to October 1. District health officers (DHOs) and vaccination teams have been instructed to administer the HPV vaccine at schools, homes, and healthcare centers to reach the remaining beneficiaries.
Health department officials clarified that no additional remuneration will be provided to teams for the extended campaign.
Health department urges parents to act
The Sindh health department has appealed to parents to ensure that their daughters receive the HPV vaccine during the catch-up days. Officials emphasized that timely vaccination is crucial to preventing cervical cancer, a disease that can be fatal but is largely preventable through immunization.
“We urge all parents to take advantage of the catch-up campaign and protect their daughters from this life-threatening disease,” a health department spokesperson said.
The move reflects Sindh’s commitment to strengthening routine immunization coverage and preventing future cases of cervical cancer in the province.