Over 300,000 Girls Vaccinated Despite Hesitancy
RAWALPINDI — The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign across Rawalpindi district has concluded with a notable achievement: 307,421 girls vaccinated, achieving 77.71% coverage against cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases.
Running from September 15 to 27, the campaign aimed to vaccinate 395,609 girls aged 9 to 14 across all nine tehsils of the district.
District-Wide Results
According to data shared with the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), coverage rates varied significantly across tehsils:
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Kotli Sattian: 91.6% (highest coverage)
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Rawalpindi City: 83.5%
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Rawalpindi Cantonment: 83.1%
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Murree: 80.9%
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Kahuta: 81%
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Taxila: 78.9%
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Gujar Khan: 76%
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Rawalpindi Rural: 68.9%
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Kallar Syedan: 58.6% (lowest coverage)
Health officials cited terrain challenges, misinformation, and parental refusals as key factors affecting coverage in lower-performing areas.
Dual Approach: Schools and Communities
The District Health Authority (DHA) employed a two-pronged strategy:
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School-based vaccination campaigns
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Community outreach via hospitals, Basic Health Units (BHUs), and mobile health teams
Notably, 72% of doses were administered through community outreach, demonstrating the effectiveness of health worker engagement beyond school settings.
Vaccine Safety and Public Trust
Out of over 307,000 doses administered, only two minor adverse reactions were reported — a statistic health officials say underscores the vaccine’s strong safety profile.
“This is a reassuring indicator for parents and the public. It confirms that the vaccine is both safe and effective,” said DHA spokesperson Dr. Waqar Ahmad.
Health Leadership Reacts
Dr. Ehsan Ghani, CEO of the DHA, lauded the efforts of vaccination teams and parental cooperation.
“Our teams worked day and night, and the response in most areas was remarkable. We now have a strong foundation to build on for future vaccination campaigns.”
Vaccine Hesitancy Remains a Barrier
Despite the success, 64,610 girls were not vaccinated — over 70% due to refusals from parents or guardians.
Dr. Waqar stressed that the DHA is now conducting a thorough analysis of vaccine hesitancy trends:
“Understanding the roots of refusal — whether religious, cultural, or fear-based — is essential. We are developing targeted awareness programs to overcome these hurdles in future campaigns.”
With this year’s campaign laying the groundwork, health authorities hope to expand coverage in future drives and potentially integrate HPV vaccination into routine immunisation schedules.
Health officials are also exploring partnerships with community leaders and schools to combat misinformation and encourage higher participation in the next phase.
