Sindh has added the HPV vaccine to its Expanded Program on Immunization, offering free cervical cancer protection to eligible girls across the province.
HPV Vaccine Becomes Part of Sindh’s Routine Immunization
The Sindh government has officially included the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), marking an important step in protecting young girls from cervical cancer. With this move, the number of vaccine-preventable diseases covered under Sindh’s EPI has increased to 13, bringing the province in line with global recommendations on routine HPV vaccination.
Health officials say the decision reflects growing recognition that cervical cancer, which is strongly linked to HPV infection, can be largely prevented through timely vaccination and screening. By integrating HPV into the regular EPI schedule instead of running one-off campaigns, Sindh aims to offer more stable and predictable protection for each new cohort of girls.
Who Is Eligible and Where the Vaccine Will Be Available
Under the new policy, the HPV vaccine will be provided free of cost at more than 100 EPI centres across Sindh. However, it will only be administered to girls aged nine years and above, in line with international guidelines that recommend vaccination before the onset of sexual activity. Parents and guardians are being encouraged to bring eligible daughters to their nearest EPI facility to receive the shot.
According to Dr Raj Kumar, Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization, a circular has already been issued to all district health officers, including those in Karachi, directing them to start HPV vaccination from 1 January 2026. This means that EPI centres are expected to treat HPV just like other routine vaccines, with regular reporting and monitoring built into the system.
Funding, Targets and Federal–Provincial Partnership
To support the new HPV initiative, the Sindh government has allocated Rs 797 million to the federal government for vaccine procurement over a three-year period. Under this arrangement, the federal government will be responsible for purchasing the vaccines, while Sindh will contribute part of the cost and handle ground-level implementation.
The programme aims to vaccinate around 700,000 girls every year. If this target is met consistently, public health experts believe that Sindh could significantly reduce future cervical cancer cases in the province over the next one to two decades. The partnership model also helps ensure quality control and steady supply, as vaccine procurement is managed centrally through national channels.
Lessons from the 2025 HPV Campaign and Vaccine Hesitancy
The decision to add HPV to the routine EPI schedule follows a province-wide vaccination campaign launched on 15 September 2025, which targeted girls aged 9 to 15 years. While the campaign provided valuable experience, it also exposed serious challenges in public acceptance. Many parents declined vaccination for their daughters, often due to mistrust, rumours and incomplete information about the vaccine.
Despite extensive awareness efforts through television, social media and community outreach, overall uptake remained limited. Health officials say that anti-vaccination narratives, including AI-generated videos and fear-based content shared online, played a major role in fuelling panic and hesitation. The new EPI-based approach is partly designed to counter this by making HPV vaccination a normal, routine part of childhood immunization rather than a one-time special drive.
Why HPV Vaccination Matters for Cervical Cancer Prevention
HPV is a common virus that can cause cervical cancer in women if high-risk strains persist in the body for many years. In many countries, HPV vaccination of girls between 9 and 14 years of age has significantly reduced the number of pre-cancerous lesions and cervical cancer cases. For low- and middle-income regions such as Sindh, where screening coverage is limited and many women are diagnosed late, prevention through vaccination is especially important.
By protecting girls early, the HPV vaccine helps cut the risk of serious illness, costly treatment and preventable deaths in adulthood. Public health experts describe it as an investment that saves both lives and healthcare resources in the long term.
What Parents and Communities Should Do Now?
Health authorities in Sindh are urging parents, schools and community leaders to treat the HPV vaccine like any other life-saving childhood vaccine. They recommend that families seek information from qualified doctors, vaccinators and official health channels instead of relying on rumours or unverified social media content.
Parents of girls aged nine and above are encouraged to check with their nearest EPI centre or district health office about vaccination days and procedures. Community influencers, teachers and religious leaders can also play a role by sharing accurate information and helping families understand that the HPV vaccine is about protecting girls from a serious, preventable cancer in later life.
If Sindh succeeds in overcoming misinformation and achieving high HPV coverage, the province could become a national model for cervical cancer prevention and stronger routine immunization.
