Two-week campaign targets girls aged 9-14; health authorities face challenge of addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, particularly in Kurram
KOHAT – Amid public concerns about vaccination and its possible side effects in some parts of the province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is set to launch a province-wide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign on Wednesday, November 11, targeting approximately 2.93 million girls aged 9 to 14 to protect them against cervical cancer, health department officials revealed.
The two-week long campaign will continue until November 24, aims to cover 1.6 million school-going girls and 1.3 million girls who are out of school. The drive was initially scheduled for November 2 to 14, but its launch date was subsequently revised to November 11, according to health department sources.
Health authorities have been preparing for the campaign through awareness activities, meetings and information sessions at provincial and district levels over the past two months. However, officials face the dual challenge of reaching millions of eligible girls while addressing public concerns and misinformation surrounding the vaccine.
These concerns have been particularly evident in Kurram, a tribal district in Kohat Division along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where some residents have sought greater clarity about the vaccine’s safety, effectiveness and intended benefits.
In Parachinar, the district headquarters of Kurram, and Tehsil Headquarters Sadda, residents have raised questions about the vaccination campaign and its possible effects. Some families in the district have reportedly refused or delayed routine childhood vaccinations because of concerns about side effects, rumours linking vaccines to infertility and distrust of health institutions. Such reluctance has left children vulnerable to diseases that can be prevented through immunization.
Medical experts have urged parents and community members to seek information from qualified healthcare professionals rather than relying on unverified claims circulating on social media. They have clarified that the HPV vaccine is preventive, not a treatment for cancer, and does not replace screening for the early detection of cervical cancer.
HPV is a common viral infection, but persistent infection with certain high-risk types can eventually lead to cervical cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is largely preventable through HPV vaccination and timely screening.
Health officials say more than 5,000 cervical cancer cases are reported in Pakistan annually, while approximately 3,000 women die from the disease each year. These figures were also highlighted during recent health awareness activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
One of the most sensitive concerns surrounding HPV vaccination is the allegation that it can affect women’s reproductive health and cause infertility. However, the WHO’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety says available scientific evidence does not establish a causal relationship between HPV vaccination and infertility or premature ovarian insufficiency.
The committee has reviewed epidemiological studies and safety data collected after the vaccine’s introduction and continues to describe its overall safety profile as favourable.
A local medical expert has also dismissed claims linking childhood vaccinations to infertility in girls or boys, saying there is no credible scientific evidence to support such allegations. Vaccines, the expert explained, stimulate the immune system to develop protection against specific diseases and undergo scientific assessments of quality, safety and effectiveness before being included in official immunization programmes.
The WHO has also rejected claims that vaccination reduces a person’s ability to have children naturally. According to the organization, most vaccine-related side effects are mild and short-lived, such as pain at the injection site or a mild fever, while serious adverse reactions are extremely rare. Safety monitoring continues even after vaccines are introduced into national immunization programmes.
International experience with HPV vaccination spans nearly two decades. The first HPV vaccine was licensed in 2006, and since then, vaccines have undergone extensive clinical research and continued safety monitoring.
According to the WHO, HPV vaccines had been incorporated into national immunization programmes in 165 countries by the end of 2025.
Pakistan launched its first national HPV vaccination campaign in September 2025, covering girls aged 9 to 14 in Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad Capital Territory and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Supported by the WHO, UNICEF and Gavi, the campaign involved more than 49,000 trained health workers.
The WHO subsequently reported that more than 9.6 million girls had been reached through the campaign.
In preparation for the upcoming campaign, district administrations and health authorities have organized awareness sessions at public universities, colleges and schools in the provincial capital and several other districts to explain the importance of HPV vaccination, address public concerns and respond to questions raised by community members.
In Parachinar and Sadda, District Health Officers of Upper and Lower Kurram, gynaecologists, an oncologist, a paediatrician and other health officials briefed participants on HPV infection, cervical cancer, vaccination and preventive healthcare.
The sessions focused on explaining the vaccine’s intended benefits, its target age group, available scientific evidence and safety measures. Medical specialists and community representatives also discussed residents’ concerns about possible side effects and the implementation of the campaign.
As Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prepares for the November drive, health authorities face the task of ensuring that eligible girls across the province, including those living in remote areas and those not attending school, are reached.
The success of the campaign will depend not only on the availability and distribution of vaccine doses but also on public awareness, parental confidence and transparent communication. Health experts say credible safety monitoring and direct access to qualified medical professionals will be essential to addressing legitimate concerns, countering misinformation and ensuring that eligible girls benefit from protection against cervical cancer.
