Pakistan set to launch first-ever anti-cancer vaccination drive

Pakistan will roll out its first national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign from September 15 to 27, aiming to prevent cervical cancer—the country’s second most common cancer among women.

The campaign will cover Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, targeting nearly 13 million girls aged between 9 and 14. Health officials said a single dose of the vaccine would be administered, which offers lifelong protection.

The initiative is being led by the DOPASI Foundation in collaboration with the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) and supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. At a strategic workshop held in Islamabad, experts from government, civil society, and international organisations stressed the importance of community mobilisation to counter vaccine hesitancy.

Dr Farhaj Uddin, Programme Manager for the campaign at DOPASI Foundation, said efforts were focused on advocacy to address myths and misconceptions. He noted that building public confidence was key to ensuring nationwide coverage.

Dr Khurram Shahzad, Director Technical at FDI, highlighted the role of medical professionals, saying that public trust in doctors made their involvement critical in countering misinformation. Similarly, WHO’s Dr Rozeena Khalid underlined the urgency of action, pointing out that cervical cancer now claims more lives of Pakistani women each year than breast cancer.

Officials confirmed that the HPV vaccine would also be included in Pakistan’s routine immunisation programme. Over the next three years, the government has set a target of vaccinating 18 million girls, a goal dependent on the active participation of civil society, private hospitals, and healthcare providers.