To end the ongoing negative propaganda against the cervical cancer vaccination campaign, the government has decided to take political and religious parties into confidence.
According to details, sources said the Ministry of Health will soon reach out to political and religious groups to counter the misinformation against the cervical cancer vaccination drive.
Sources added that efforts will be made to convince political and religious parties about the importance of the HPV vaccine. Appeals will be made for their support of the HPV campaign, along with requests for issuing public statements in favor of the drive.
Health Ministry sources stated that government delegations will also hold meetings with scholars from different schools of thought, urging political and religious figures to release video messages on social media in support of the cancer vaccine. The ministry has already briefed women parliamentarians regarding the HPV vaccine.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan’s Federal Directorate of Immunization, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a vaccination campaign to protect women from cervical cancer caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
In partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF, the first phase of the campaign is being carried out in Punjab, Sindh, Pakistan administered Kashmir, and Islamabad, targeting girls aged 9 to 14.
Running from September 15 to 27, the vaccination drive engaged more than 49,000 health workers trained by the WHO. According to UNICEF, with this initiative, Pakistan has joined over 150 countries where WHO approved vaccines have been included in routine immunization schedules.
