Govt to launch cervical cancer vaccination on September 15

LAHORE: The Punjab Health Department has announced that a vaccination campaign against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) will be launched across the province from September 15.

The campaign is being launched to provide vaccines to girls aged 9 to 14 years to prevent cervical cancer.

According to the spokesperson, on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Gujarat Noor-ul-Ayn Qureshi, the campaign will be launched across the district under the supervision of District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Ghamkhar Hussain Shah and DHO Preventive Services Dr. Syed Muhammad Aitzaz Ahmed.

The authorities have urged parents to ensure the timely vaccination of their girls so that their health remains safe and their future can be improved.

This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to promote preventive public health and reduce the risks of cervical cancer in Pakistan.

Cervical cancer is a serious but preventable disease found in women, which affects the lower part of the uterus, i.e., the cervix.

The disease is mostly caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus.

The rate of this disease is increasing in Pakistan, and more than 5,000 women are being infected with it every year.

Since its symptoms do not appear in the beginning, in most cases the diagnosis is made in the late stages of the disease, when treatment becomes difficult.

It should be noted that cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among Pakistani women and the second most common cancer among women aged 15 to 44.

According to the 2023 report of the Pakistan HPV Center, 5,008 women are infected with this cancer every year, and 3,197 women die.

Gardasil vaccine

The good news is that cervical cancer is preventable, and the HPV vaccine is used worldwide for this.

Vaccines called Gardasil and Cervarix are effective against the types of this virus that cause cervical cancer.

According to experts, this vaccine should be given to children (boys and girls) between the ages of 9 and 14, that is, before the onset of sexual activity.

However, the vaccine is also considered effective in those aged 15 to 26, and in some cases, women aged 27 to 45 can also be given the vaccine with advice.