HPV Vaccination Campaign For 135,000 Girls To Begin In Dera Ismail Khan On Nov 11

The 12-day district campaign will target girls aged nine to 14 and run through November 24, with officials involving parents, schools, religious scholars and health professionals to address concerns and counter rumours. DERA ISMAIL KHAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Nov, 2026) A 12-day vaccination campaign to protect girls against cervical cancer will begin in Dera Ismail Khan on November 11, with around 135,000 girls aged nine to 14 years set to receive the HPV vaccine. The campaign will continue until November 24, 2026, as part of efforts by the district administration and health department to prevent cervical cancer and raise public awareness about the disease. Preparations are underway under the supervision of the deputy commissioner, with special emphasis on engaging parents and addressing public concerns about the vaccination drive. Religious scholars, doctors, teachers, public and private educational institutions and other influential members of society are being taken on board to ensure that accurate information about the vaccine reaches parents and encourages their participation. The deputy commissioner has also been reviewing administrative arrangements and campaign preparations in meetings with the relevant departments. The health department has urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that all eligible girls receive the vaccine. It said cervical cancer was preventable and that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was an important measure for protecting girls against the disease. The parents have also been advised not to pay heed to rumours and instead rely on authentic information from health professionals. The district administration and health department expressed hope that public cooperation would help make the campaign successful and protect thousands of girls from cervical cancer.