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Punjab has launched a campaign to protect girls from cervical cancer by administering the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in schools. The free drive began Monday and will continue until September 27.
The program targets girls between 9 and 14 years old and is being carried out by the provincial Health Department with support from the School Education Department and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Under official directives, no student can be vaccinated without written parental consent. Schools have distributed consent forms to families, which must be collected before doses are administered.
Health officials say the requirement respects parental rights but adds challenges in areas with low literacy or where children are not enrolled in school.
To address this, social mobilizers and vaccinators have been trained to meet families, provide information in local languages, and dispel myths about the vaccine. Doctors and community leaders have also been asked to guide parents on the importance of immunization.
In addition to schools, health teams are visiting community centers and locating out-of-school girls. Authorities have pledged to monitor side effects and maintain vaccination records.
Despite these efforts, some parents remain hesitant. “We have received calls from parents asking us not to vaccinate their daughters,” said teacher Saman Fatima, urging more awareness campaigns.