Punjab Formally Includes HPV Vaccine in EPI

News Desk

Lahore: Punjab has become the leading province in Pakistan’s efforts to prevent cervical cancer, achieving remarkable success in its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive and formally adding the vaccine to its routine immunisation schedule.

Provincial Minister for Health and Population Khawaja Imran Nazir announced that the HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer, has now been officially included in the province’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). From now on, nine-year-old girls will receive the vaccine as part of their regular preventive vaccination schedule.

This addition marks the 13th vaccine under Punjab’s EPI, reflecting the government’s commitment to improving women’s health and disease prevention.

Nazir shared that more than 6.7 million girls aged between nine and 14 years have already been successfully vaccinated during the province’s campaign, achieving an impressive 90 percent coverage rate — the highest in the country.

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Highlighting the severity of the issue, the minister said cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women aged 15 to 44 in Pakistan. He emphasized that HPV-related cervical cancer is unique in that it can be prevented through timely vaccination.

“The HPV vaccine is a globally recognised preventive tool and certified by the World Health Organization (WHO),” Nazir said, adding that its inclusion in Punjab’s EPI represents a major milestone in women’s healthcare.

Globally, 147 countries have already integrated the HPV vaccine into their national immunisation programmes, including Muslim-majority nations such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Libya, Kuwait, and Morocco.

The minister reiterated that Punjab’s decision to adopt the vaccine into its routine course underscores the government’s commitment to protecting young girls and ensuring a healthier future for women across the province.