KARACHI: Sindh’s Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign has successfully vaccinated 2,410,924 girls aged 9-14 years against cervical cancer. Initially scheduled from September 15 to 27, the campaign has been extended until October 1 with additional “catch-up” days aimed at reaching unvaccinated girls, especially in union councils with low vaccination rates.
District health officers (DHOs) have been instructed to conduct vaccinations in schools with less than 80% coverage or those not visited during the initial phase. The Directorate of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) has emphasized that field teams and supervisors should continue their efforts without additional funding.
As of September 27, 223,636 girls had been vaccinated on the final day of the initial campaign, achieving 73% of the daily target. The ongoing vaccination drive aims to protect young girls from HPV, a leading cause of cervical cancer.