Vaccine Deployment Amidst Adversity: HPV Inoculations Commence in Flood-Hit Regions Spite of Widespread Resistance from Society
In a significant move towards women's health, Pakistan is set to launch a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign, supported by the Government of Pakistan's Federal Directorate for Immunization in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO). The drive, scheduled for September 15 to 27, 2025, will target girls aged 9-14 years and aims to combat cervical cancer, which is the third most common cancer among women in Pakistan. Each year, over 5000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 3197 women lose their lives to the disease.
The campaign is led by Dr. Aminah Khan, a Public Health expert, who emphasizes the importance of ensuring no girl is left behind in the fight against cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine, which targets the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that can lead to cervical cancer, was initially introduced in Pakistan in 2019 for girls aged 9-14. However, it was not integrated within the National Immunization Program and was discontinued for unknown reasons.
Recent surveys among students have revealed a need for massive awareness regarding HPV and the HPV vaccine. A survey showed that 53.8% didn't know about HPV or the HPV vaccine, and 23.1% thought men could not contract HPV. This lack of understanding among the masses and associated stigmas pose challenges in Pakistan.
To ensure the smooth execution of the vaccination drive, a collaboration will be established with Health, Education, Religious leaders, Media, and Institutes. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is planning to launch the HPV vaccination campaign in 2026.
Pakistan is a signatory of the 71st World Health Assembly Resolution of 2018 that sets a goal of 90-70-90 by year 2030. The HPV vaccine will be supplied for free and will become part of routine Immunization, with funding sought from GAVI.
According to a review published in the OAMJMS, about 80.4% reported cases of cervical cancer in Pakistan were from HPV infections between 2007 and 2018. HPV affects all individuals regardless of gender, but women with a cervix are the most affected. HPV attacks the squamous and columnar epithelium cells at the cervical transformation zone, making it more susceptible in women.
Dr. Aminah and her team are working tirelessly to protect women against HPV, but the challenges are numerous. The HPV Vaccination Program in Sindh was announced in 2022 but did not materialize, with a promise to start in September 2025. However, Dr. Aminah remains optimistic, believing that nearly 70% of the targeted aims can be achieved despite the challenging environment.
The successful incorporation of the HPV immunization could prevent up to 133,000 cervical cancer cases in Pakistan, according to a comparative modelling study. This underscores the importance of the upcoming vaccination drive in Pakistan's ongoing battle against cervical cancer.
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