Pakistan Launches First-Ever National HPV Vaccine Drive to Safeguard Girls’ Future
In a historic move, Pakistan is set to launch its first-ever national HPV vaccination campaign from September 15 to 27, 2025, marking a triumph for public health and women’s empowerment. The nationwide effort aims to vaccinate 13 million girls aged 9 to 14 across Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir with a single-dose vaccine offering lifelong protection against cervical cancer—the second most common cancer among women in Pakistan.
A high-impact workshop, organized by the DOPASI Foundation in partnership with FDI and backed by Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, brought together health experts, government officials, and civil society. They highlighted the critical role of doctors, private hospitals, and NGOs in overcoming vaccine hesitancy and steering the campaign to success. Dr Farhaj Uddin underscored the importance of advocacy and community engagement, while Dr Khurram Shahzad emphasized the trusted voice of medical professionals in building confidence.
Also notable, Dr Irshad Ali Jokhio confirmed that the HPV vaccine will be integrated into Pakistan’s routine immunization program, embedding long-term protection into national health infrastructure. And Dr Rozeena Khalid (WHO) warned of alarming rates of cervical cancer—now surpassing breast cancer in mortality—and stressed that “vaccinating adolescent girls is the only way to reduce this preventable disease”.
With a visionary goal of vaccinating 18 million girls over the next three years, health leaders called for strong collaboration among civil society and healthcare providers to ensure success. As Pakistan joins the global fight against cervical cancer, it becomes the 150th country to introduce the HPV vaccine—a milestone in protecting future generations