Health minister publicly has daughter vaccinated to demonstrate HPV vaccine’s safety

KARACHI: Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal on Saturday publicly had his daughter vaccinated with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in front of media representatives in Karachi, sending a strong message that the immunisation is completely safe.

Health officials emphasised that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Pakistan, claiming thousands of lives each year, primarily due to late detection. The event marked the launch of Pakistan s first nationwide cervical cancer vaccination campaign. I want to show parents across Pakistan that this vaccine is safe and essential for our daughters health. More than 150 countries have already introduced it, and today Pakistan has become the 151st country to take this crucial step, Kamal told reporters at the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) office.

The campaign, which will run from September 15 to 27, aims to vaccinate girls aged 9 to 14 years in schools and communities across the country. The minister urged all parents to come forward, describing the vaccine as a shield for their children s future health.

Addressing false claims circulating on social media and other platforms, Kamal said Harmful propaganda is being spread about this vaccine. I urge people not to listen to rumours. By vaccinating my own daughter, I wanted to send a clear message that this vaccine is completely safe. He stressed that prevention through vaccination is the most effective way to reduce this burden. Our goal is not only to save lives but to protect families from suffering. Prevention is always better than cure, he said.

The vaccination drive is being implemented with support from the Ministry of National Health Services, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Gavi, and other partner organisations. Lady Health Workers and mobile vaccination teams have been deployed to ensure broad coverage. Calling the launch a milestone in women s health, Kamal reaffirmed Pakistan s commitment to eliminating cervical cancer through prevention and public awareness.