K-P HPV Vaccination Drive Targets 2.9m Girls
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has launched its first HPV vaccination drive, aiming to protect 2.9 million girls against cervical cancer.
The campaign runs from November 11 to November 24. Health teams will offer free vaccination to girls aged nine to 14 at schools, madrassas, community locations and government health facilities across the province.
The drive is the province’s first attempt at large-scale HPV vaccination. It follows a first phase in Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where coverage fell below the desired level in several areas.
Who the drive covers
The target covers 2.9 million girls aged nine to 14. About 1.6 million of them are school-going, while 1.3 million are out of school. Health officials have said the campaign must reach both groups, since out-of-school girls are harder to find through school sessions alone.
The vaccine protects against human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. Health authorities describe it as safe and effective, and they have urged parents to make sure their daughters aged nine to 14 receive the dose.
The health department organised a media orientation workshop in Peshawar on November 4, ahead of the campaign, with support from the Medical Emergency Resilience Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The World Health Organization has also worked with the province on the drive.
Why the HPV vaccination drive starts in K-P now
The timing follows lessons from the first phase. The World Health Organization asked authorities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to step up awareness efforts after the earlier round. Sindh recorded the highest provincial coverage in the first phase at 68.6 per cent, above the national average, while Azad Jammu and Kashmir reported the lowest at 39.2 per cent.
Experts have warned that vaccine hesitancy is a real risk in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, given the misconceptions that surround polio vaccination in the province. They have called for an aggressive awareness drive so the campaign reaches most of the 2.9 million eligible girls.
The stakes are high. Cervical cancer kills about 5,000 people in Pakistan every year, according to health experts. An estimated 73.8 million women aged 15 and older are at risk of developing the disease. Paediatricians have said the HPV vaccine has shown promising results worldwide, and they have urged the province not to let the drive meet the same fate as the polio campaign.
After the campaign, the HPV vaccine is due to join the Expanded Programme on Immunisation schedule, which would make it part of routine immunisation for girls in the province.
What parents need to do
Parents should take their daughters aged nine to 14 to the nearest vaccination point between November 11 and November 24. The vaccine is free at schools, madrassas, designated community locations and government health facilities.
Parents seeking further information about the drive and related services can contact the Sehat Tahaffuz helpline at 1166.
The province has faced other health scares this month. Five children died of a mysterious illness in Khyber, and health teams are still investigating the cause. Balochistan is running a polio drive covering 2.2 million children, and hospitals in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have struggled under pressure in recent years. The Express Tribune reported the launch. For the HPV drive, the next two weeks will show whether the province can reach the girls who need the vaccine most.
Frequently asked questions
When does the K-P HPV vaccination drive run?
The campaign runs from November 11 to November 24, 2026, across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including the tribal districts.
Who can get the HPV vaccine?
Girls aged nine to 14 years. The campaign aims to vaccinate 2.9 million girls, including 1.6 million school-going girls and 1.3 million out-of-school girls.
Where is the vaccine available?
The vaccine is free at schools, madrassas, designated community locations and government health facilities across the province.
Where can parents get more information?
Parents can contact the Sehat Tahaffuz helpline at 1166 for information about the vaccination drive and related services.
Why does the HPV vaccine matter?
HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer, which kills about 5,000 people in Pakistan every year. The vaccine protects girls against the virus before they are exposed to it.
