HPV drive set to confront endemic vaccine hesitancy

Globally, the disease claims more than 350,000 lives annually, while in Pakistan, more than 5,000 new cases and over 3,000 deaths are estimated each year, making vaccination and early detection crucial.A year after its launch in Punjab and Sindh, the HPV vaccination campaign is now set to reach K-P, where the Health Department plans to vaccinate around 2.9 million girls aged nine to 14 – including 1.6 million school-going and….

Winning the confidence of parents and communities, addressing misinformation and overcoming vaccine hesitancy will be critical to the success of the campaign.This is particularly pertinent in K-P where vaccine hesitancy has assumed an endemic status among the local population given the controversial history of the polio campaign and its links to CIA missions.

Even today, K-P continues to record a significant number of refusals during polio campaigns, while vaccination workers have also faced security threats in several areas.Despite these concerns, not all parents are hesitant about the campaign.

While some remain wary of the vaccine's safety and possible reactions, others, particularly those who have witnessed the devastating effects of cervical cancer, see vaccination as an important safeguard for their daughters.Bashir Khan, who lost his wife to cervical cancer, said he intended to have both his daughters vaccinated.

"Losing my wife has made me particularly conscious of the importance of prevention.

Parents should understand the importance of protecting their children from a disease that can have devastating consequences," urged Khan.Conversely, Shamaila Bibi, another parent, was concerned about whether vaccination teams would be properly trained and whether the vaccine could cause reactions among girls.

"The problem here is that people often become suspicious even about something positive.

If, God forbid, something happens to a girl after vaccination, no parent would want to vaccinate their daughter," she said.Health experts say such concerns need to be addressed through direct communication rather than allowing rumours to fill the information gap.

Dr Bawar Shah, president of the Pakistan Paediatric Association's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chapter, told The Express Tribune that the HPV vaccine was safe and had been administered in countries around the world."Cervical cancer is increasing rapidly in Pakistan and vaccination offers an important means of preventing the disease.

If parents have any questions or concerns, they should discuss them with the Health Department's vaccination teams and seek clarification," said Dr Shah.Asad Zia, Assistant Director of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and in-charge of the Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Cell at the Directorate General Health Services (DGHS) K-P, said awareness campaigns were being conducted in schools, mosques and communities to educate parents about cervical cancer and the….

HPV drive set to confront endemic vaccine hesitancy Wisal Yousafzai | Updated 39 seconds ago | As authorities prepare their first campaign to vaccinate girls aged 9 to 14 against cervical cancer, quiet concerns ov.

22Media International — Pakistan, world and bilingual digital newsroom coverage.