The Sindh Health Department has extended the ongoing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign by three days across Karachi and other districts of the province. The campaign, which was initially scheduled to last 12 days, has now been extended from September 29 to October 1 to vaccinate more girls who were left out. So far, 59 percent of targeted girls have received the vaccine, while 41 percent remain unvaccinated.
According to a letter issued by Dr. Raj Kumar, Project Director of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Sindh, the campaign’s progress has revealed that in several schools and union councils, coverage remains below 80 percent. Special focus will therefore be given to such areas, and additional vaccination sessions will be held in schools where teams have not yet reached.
Field teams and supervisors have been directed to continue catch-up activities without any additional budget allocation. Commissioners at the district level will monitor these efforts to ensure that targets are met.
Furthermore, community involvement is being prioritized to build public trust in the vaccine. Social activists, teachers, parents, and religious leaders will participate in awareness sessions, while outreach will also be expanded with the help of civil society organizations. Health facilities and district offices have been instructed to maintain proper records of used vaccine vials to ensure transparency and accountability.
