Preparations are underway for Pakistan’s first-ever national vaccination drive against cervical cancer, scheduled to run from September 15 to 27, ARY News reported on Sunday.
The campaign will administer the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, a proven preventive measure against cervical cancer, in selected areas of Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, and Islamabad.
Health department officials confirmed that the initiative will primarily focus on girls aged 9–14 years enrolled in public and private schools. Registration of eligible students has already begun. To increase acceptance, awareness messages will be shared with parents, highlighting the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
Vaccinations will be delivered through fixed health centers, community facilities, mobile outreach teams, and school health units, ensuring wide coverage. Each girl in the target group will receive a single HPV dose, which experts say dramatically lowers the risk of developing cervical cancer.
Public health experts have described the campaign as a historic milestone, marking a critical step toward protecting future generations of Pakistani women from a disease that is both preventable and potentially fatal if ignored.
