Key points
- Pakistan’s first-ever HPV vaccine campaign aims to immunize 13 million girls aged 9–14 against cervical cancer by 2027.
- Social media-fuelled myths, ranging from infertility fears to halal concerns, are triggering vaccine refusals across schools and homes.
- Health officials report a spike in hesitancy just days into the campaign, despite months of community sensitization efforts.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambitious first-ever nationwide rollout of the HPV vaccine, targeting more than 13 million girls aged 9 to 14, is being hailed as a historic step toward eliminating cervical cancer. But as vaccinators fan out across schools and neighborhoods from September 15 to 27, the campaign faces a daunting, all-too-familiar challenge: public mistrust, misinformation, and a dangerous vacuum of awareness.
From the outset, a wave of social media-driven myths and conspiracy theories has swept across communities, threatening to undermine what health experts call a life-saving mission.
“Is it made in China? Could it harm fertility? Is it halal? Why only girls? Was it even tested properly, or is this just another Western ploy to curb our population?” These are just a few of the swirling doubts and whispered conspiracies that health teams are confronting in living rooms, classrooms, and community spaces across the country—where fear often spreads faster than facts.
“It’s only the third day of the campaign, and we’re already seeing a surge in refusals,” said Dr. Syeda Rashida Batool, District Health Officer (DHO), Islamabad, speaking to WE News English.
“Despite months of awareness sessions with parents, school staff, and community leaders, vaccine hesitancy spiked almost overnight once social media propaganda picked up.”
The Vaccine and the Vision
The HPV vaccine being administered- Cecolin, a Chinese-manufactured, single-dose, bivalent vaccine introduced globally in 2006, is designed to protect against HPV types 16 and 18, responsible for around 70% of cervical cancer cases. Already in use in over 150 countries, the vaccine is backed by the World Health Organization’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, Dr. Rashida said.
In Pakistan, where more than 5,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and 64% of them do not survive, the need is urgent. The current campaign covers Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with phased expansions planned for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2026 and Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan in 2027.
Dr. Syeda Rashida Batool shared that the campaign in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) aims to vaccinate 147,000 girls aged 9 to 14, both enrolled in schools and those out of school.
“By the third day of the campaign (running from September 15 to 27, 2025), we began encountering unexpected obstacles, especially vaccine refusals,” she explained. “This came as a surprise, since our sensitization efforts had been well-received; we engaged with teachers, principals, students, and parents, and their initial response was overwhelmingly positive.”
Dr. Rashida noted that while the first two days ran smoothly, vaccine hesitancy surged once misinformation began circulating on social media. “Our teams, along with civil society organizations, are now actively working with school administrations, lawmakers, and communities, conducting counselling and awareness sessions to turn refusals into acceptance.”
Clarifying concerns, she emphasized that the HPV vaccine is not new. “It was first introduced globally in 2006 and is currently used in over 150 countries. Many nations have significantly reduced cervical cancer cases thanks to this vaccine, and we aim to make it a routine part of Pakistan’s immunization program.”
Dr. Rashida said the vaccine being used is Cecolin, a single-dose, bivalent vaccine developed in China in 2019, which protects against HPV types 16 and 18, the strains responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer cases.
“In every vaccination drive introduced in Pakistan, we’ve seen a section of society resist with negative narratives,” she concluded. “But with the right information and outreach, we can overcome the fear and save lives.”
Double Pressure for Schools
Private schools, meanwhile, find themselves in the crosshairs, caught between rising parental reluctance and pressure from education and health departments.
“We support the campaign wholeheartedly,” said Dr. Muhammad Afzal Babar, President of the Private Schools Network (PSN), Islamabad. “But the challenge is real. We are being asked to deliver 100% vaccination rates, while a significant number of parents are refusing consent, largely due to misinformation.”
Dr. Babar criticized the campaign’s communication strategy, saying it lacked the mass awareness drive needed to counter online myths. “We’re being squeezed from both ends. Parents are confused and fearful, while officials are pushing for numbers. This is not how trust is built.”
Schools under PSN will not vaccinate any student without written parental consent, and details of non-consenting parents will be shared with health authorities.
He remarked that the vaccination campaign is lacking widespread outreach. “To ensure its success, awareness efforts must extend to the grassroots level, on the ground, in communities, so that as many people as possible are informed and engaged.”
Voices of Experience: Survivors and Advocates Speak Out
Cervical cancer survivor Afshan Bhurgri, 59, knows too well the price of silence. She endured surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation more than a decade ago.
“The first thing I did after recovering was get my daughter vaccinated,” she said. “Back then, it cost a lot and needed three doses. Today, it’s just one jab—and it’s free. Please don’t wait to go through what I did.”
Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sindh’s Minister for Health and Population Welfare, said, “As one mother to another, I urge parents to protect their daughters. Cervical cancer is often silent until it’s too late.”
The Awareness Gap: Data Speaks Volumes
A nationwide Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours (KAB) survey conducted by Jhpiego, a reproductive health organization supporting the campaign, uncovered staggering gaps:
Only 19% of caregivers had even heard of cervical cancer
Just 5% had heard of HPV
A mere 2% knew a vaccine existed to prevent it
Among those who had heard of HPV, 50% wrongly believed there was a cure
“These findings are a wake-up call,” said Dilbar Khan, Project Lead at Jhpiego. “We need to combat misinformation with empathy and evidence, or risk losing the battle before it even begins.”
A Coalition of Trust, Built from the Ground Up
The campaign’s strength lies in its partnerships: local CSOs, teachers, Lady Health Workers, media, and religious leaders have all been engaged to help shape public opinion and build vaccine confidence.
From animated explainer videos to journalist briefings and school-based outreach, communication strategies are being adapted province by province, culture by culture.
“Introducing a vaccine isn’t just about logistics, it’s about trust,” said Dr. Soofia Yunus, Director General of the Federal Directorate of Immunization. “We owe it to our girls to get this right.”
Beyond the Campaign: Routine Immunization on the Horizon
Once the campaign concludes, the government plans to integrate the HPV vaccine into its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)- alongside polio, measles, typhoid, and other preventable diseases, with long-term co-financing from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
“This isn’t just a one-time drive,” said Dr. Aminah Khan, Country Director, Jhpiego Pakistan. “We’re building a sustainable model to protect future generations.”
The Road Ahead: Hope Meets Resistance
The battle against cervical cancer in Pakistan is no longer about scientific breakthroughs; it’s about community trust, collective responsibility, and cultural sensitivity.
“If we act together, parents, doctors, teachers, religious scholars, and civil society, we can open a new chapter in women’s health,” said Dr. Khurram Shahzad, Director Technical, FDI. “One where no girl in Pakistan suffers from a preventable cancer.”
As the campaign enters its most critical phase, the message is clear: facts must speak louder than fear.
