HPV vaccine drive hits another roadblock

A Health Department campaign to administer cervical cancer prevention vaccines to girls aged nine to 14 in all government and private schools across Rawalpindi has encountered significant obstacles.

The All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association has blocked the inoculation of students in private institutions.

The association's president, Malik Naseem, said that parents of all students in private schools have categorically refused to have their daughters vaccinated. "We cannot forcibly administer the vaccine to any student in a private school," he emphasised.

Health Authority teams reported that in several private schools, staff were sent away from offices with instructions stating "No injection needed." In government schools, teachers reportedly refused to allow their own daughters to receive the vaccine.

Parents of students in both public and private schools have explicitly instructed class teachers not to administer the injection under any circumstances, warning that strict action would follow if their directives were ignored. They also indicated that, in the event of any adverse reaction, FIRs would be filed against the school heads and class teachers.

Consent forms sent home by school administrations were returned by parents marked with "Big No," effectively bringing the campaign to a halt. Reports have also emerged of attempts to forcibly administer the vaccine in some government schools.

The Punjab Teachers' Union and Educators' Teachers' Association clarified that the issue lies between parents and the Health Department, and teacher organisations are not intervening.

Meanwhile, the District Health Authority maintains that the campaign is proceeding successfully and expressed confidence in achieving its target.