Karachi, September 20, 2025: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal publicly vaccinated his daughter against cervical cancer in a bid to dispel misinformation surrounding the HPV vaccine and encourage parents across Pakistan to protect their daughters.
Speaking at a cervical cancer prevention event in Karachi, Kamal said the vaccine was introduced in Pakistan after significant effort, noting that the country is now the 191st to launch it, with many Islamic nations already using it safely.
“Children’s lives are precious. Even if one girl suffers because of false information, it is a huge loss,” Kamal remarked. “That is why I brought my daughter forward to show people that the vaccine is safe.”
He revealed that his daughter agreed to take the vaccine after he explained its importance. “Our family rarely appears in public, but this time I wanted to set an example for the health and safety of every girl in Pakistan,” the minister said.
Kamal underlined that Pakistan’s healthcare system cannot cope with treating all patients at once, stressing that prevention through vaccination is critical. He expressed hope that with widespread coverage, cervical cancer-related deaths among women could drop sharply within the next decade.
The federal government formally launched the HPV vaccination campaign on September 15, starting with a girl at a government school in Islamabad. The program aims to vaccinate 13 million girls aged 9–14 nationwide.
The initiative has faced resistance fueled by misleading social media videos falsely claiming girls fell ill after vaccination. Authorities have dismissed these videos as fabricated, with health experts reaffirming the vaccine’s proven effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer.
Kamal urged parents not to be swayed by rumors and to prioritize their children’s health. “This vaccine saves lives. Protect your daughters — prevention is our best weapon,” he said.
