Cervical cancer vaccination drive falters

The 14-day cervical cancer vaccination campaign has failed to achieve its target. Following which, plans are in motion to restart the campaign next.

The campaign aimed to vaccinate girls aged nine to 14 in most government and private schools. However, the majority of parents disapproved of the vaccine and refused to get their daughters vaccinated.

In private schools and academies, teams administering cervical cancer vaccines were not even allowed to enter. While parents of girls studying in government schools had visited the schools and strictly warned the principals, headmasters and class teachers against vaccinating their daughters without permission. The parents had threatened a strong reaction if their wishes were not upheld.

To makeup for the shortfall in their target, teams reported falsified data and overstated the campaign's success. Corroboration of this data with the education department's data exposed it as a hoax.

The health department's attempts to convince the parents also proved unsuccessful. The government has now given formal approval to restart the cervical cancer vaccination campaign. During the extended period of the campaign, the district administration, education department and health department will also be given a target for convincing the parents.

In Rawalpindi district, the campaign proved to be especially unsuccessful in private schools. While partial success was achieved among girls in government schools.

President of the All Pakistan Private Schools Colleges Association, Irfan Muzaffar Kiani, and President of the All Pakistan Private Schools Association Registered, Malik Naseem, told The Express Tribune that there was no effective awareness campaign before the launch of the vaccination drive by the government, nor the health department. "We cannot get the vaccination done forcibly. The government should first launch an extensive awareness campaign. Rulers and high-ranking officials should get their daughters vaccinated in schools openly to instil confidence within ordinary citizens and parents.

A recent survey among Pakistani women showed that 54 per cent were aware of the HPV vaccine. Among doctors, attitudes were overwhelmingly positive, with 91 per cent supporting its use, though only 37 per cent had actively recommended it to their patients. This gap highlights the importance of public campaigns and awareness drives like the one currently underway.

The HPV vaccine is not just a shot; it is a promise of protection and a guarantee of a safer future for Pakistan's daughters. This campaign demonstrates that when government, civil society, doctors, journalists, teachers, international partners and influencers stand together for one purpose, rumours lose their weight and truth prevails.