HPV vaccine to be introduced in Pakistan to prevent cervical cancer

Pakistan is launching its first-ever nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign—a landmark public health initiative aimed at drastically reducing the burden of cervical cancer.

Campaign Details

• Target group: Approximately 13 million girls aged 9–14 across Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, and AJK.

• Campaign period: Conducted from September 15 to 27, 2025.  Today

• Pakistan now becomes the 150th country to introduce the HPV vaccine in its immunization programme.

• A single-dose vaccine approach may also be adopted, in line with WHO guidelines.

Phased Rollout

• Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad & AJK — first wave in 2025. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — expected rollout in 2026.

• Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan — planned for 2027.

Capacity Building & Partnerships

• Over 49,000 health workers have been trained nationwide in advance of the rollout. The NationEMRO

• The initiative is funded and supported by Gavi (The Vaccine Alliance) with technical support from WHO and oversight from the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI). The NationEMROThe Herald Today

Why It Matters

• Cervical cancer is currently the third most common cancer among women in Pakistan, causing over 5,000 new cases and around 3,200 deaths annually with a fatality rate of 64%—among the highest in South Asia. The Nation+1The Express Tribune

• HPV types 16 and 18, targeted by the vaccine, are responsible for nearly 70–80% of cervical cancer cases worldwide. The Express TribuneWikipedia+1

• According to global modeling, without vaccine intervention, cervical cancer cases in Pakistan could triple over the next 70 years. The NationEMRO

• The effort aligns with WHO’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030 (target: 90% of girls fully vaccinated by age 15). The NationEMROWikipedia

Summary Table

This campaign marks a pivotal moment for women’s health in Pakistan, offering robust protection against a preventable disease through vaccination.