Sindh extends HPV campaign as 41% of target girls remain uncovered

Province vaccinates 2.36m in first round; Karachi trails far behind Sindh average despite gains in schools

By Mukhtar Alam

KARACHI: Having administered the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to around 2.36 million of its target adolescent girls (9–14 years) in 12 allocated days, Sindh has decided to extend the campaign for another three days to reach many of the 1.6 million girls who remained unvaccinated when the drive officially ended on September 27.

Sindh concluded the campaign with a 59% coverage rate, placing it second after Punjab at 61%. Nationally, about 60% of the targeted girls were vaccinated, while coverage stood lower in Azad Kashmir (36%) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (32%).

Dr Raj Kumar, Project Director of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), which is executing the HPV campaign in Sindh, told this scribe that after a review meeting on September 28, it was decided to extend vaccination activities from September 29 for three more days. “Teamwork, strategies and resources will remain the same as before, but schools will receive greater focus since coverage had started improving there in the last days of the drive,” he said. Dr Kumar urged parents and teachers to ensure that eligible girls avail the opportunity to receive the HPV vaccine, the first of its kind in Pakistan for the prevention of cervical cancer.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Directorate of Immunisation (SDI), in its daily situation report, said that by Day 12 of the campaign, 41% of eligible girls in the province remained uncovered. Coverage improved in most Karachi districts but declined in parts of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Sukkur divisions.

The report noted that around 8,300 schools recorded coverage below 80%, while only 7% of previously missed girls were vaccinated. Refusals were mainly linked to misinformation and lack of sensitisation. The SDI recommended extending the campaign until October 1 to allow catch-up vaccination of missed children, adding that “all EPI fixed sites and outreach sessions will continue HPV vaccination throughout October 2025 until 90% coverage is achieved.”

Karachi’s consistently poor response remained a major concern throughout the campaign. A source privy to the campaign said that several schools have now begun approaching authorities to request vaccination teams again.

According to official data, Karachi districts together reported an overall coverage rate of 39% of a total target of 1.51 million girls. Among them, West led with 66%, followed by Malir (44%), Korangi (43%), Central (35%), South (35%), East (32%), and Keamari (14%).

Outside Karachi, Sanghar reported the highest coverage with 88%, followed by Ghotki (87%), Badin (85%), and Naushehro Feroze (85%). Other districts recorded overall campaign coverage rates ranging between 84% and 41%.

Photos: Official sources