Free HPV Vaccine for Girls 9 to 14 in Pakistan: Where and When
The HPV vaccine is free for girls aged 9 to 14 in Pakistan, one dose only. Where to get it, KP 2026 and Balochistan 2027 phases, side effects and helpline 1166.
The HPV vaccine is free in Pakistan for girls aged 9 to 14, and one dose is the full course. The first campaign ran in Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in September 2025. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is next, in 2026, then Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan in 2027. For any question, call the free Sehat Tahaffuz helpline, 1166.
Many parents first heard of the HPV vaccine through a forwarded video, not a doctor. That is a poor way to decide about a daughter's health. So we went to the people who run the programme: the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI), the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
HPV means human papillomavirus. It is a common virus, and it causes almost all cases of cervical cancer, which is cancer of the lower part of the womb. WHO Pakistan says the country loses 8 women to cervical cancer every day. The FDI's own question sheet calls it the third most common cancer in Pakistani women, and the second most common in women aged 15 to 44.
Who can get the free HPV vaccine in Pakistan
Girls aged 9 to 14 years are eligible, and the vaccine costs nothing. The FDI says it is safe, free and effective. The government pays for it, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and WHO. Boys and adult women are not part of this programme.
The age range is not random. The FDI explains that the vaccine works best when it is given before a girl ever meets the virus. That is why the programme targets girls before their teenage years, not women who are already adults.
| Question | Answer from official sources |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible | Girls aged 9 to 14 years |
| Cost | Free, paid for by the government |
| Doses | One dose, under the government's approved schedule |
| Where it was given in 2025 | Schools, madrassas, vaccination centres and health facilities |
| Who gives it | Trained EPI vaccinators, lady health visitors and nurses |
| Helpline | Sehat Tahaffuz 1166, free |
One dose is enough, and it is given as an injection
Your daughter needs one injection, not a series. The FDI's question sheet says the HPV vaccine is a single dose under the government's approved schedule, and that it gives protection for many years against cervical cancer and other diseases caused by HPV.
Because it is an injection, it is not given door to door like polio drops. The FDI says this is so the shot is given safely, at a school, madrassa, health centre or a fixed site. If you have followed the polio cases in Pakistan this year, expect a different setup. Your daughter goes to the vaccinator, the vaccinator does not come to your door.
What the 2025 campaign reached
The first campaign ran from 15 to 27 September 2025 in Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It aimed to vaccinate at least 90% of 13 million eligible girls. Government data reported by Gavi shows 9.2 million girls vaccinated, about 71% of the target.
WHO says it trained more than 49,000 health workers for the drive, working at fixed centres, outreach sites, schools and in mobile teams.
It was not smooth. Gavi reports that coverage started slowly, as false videos spread online. The government added three extra days, 29 September to 1 October, and that catch-up added 1.4 million doses. Even so, 18 districts stayed below 60% coverage.
Our view is plain. A 71% result in the face of a rumour campaign is a real achievement. But it also means roughly 3.8 million eligible girls in those four regions were not reached in the campaign.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is next, then Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan
WHO and UNICEF both say the rollout continues in phases: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2026, and Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan in 2027. The KP campaign has been reported for November 2026, for about 2.9 million girls, but we could not confirm those details on an official page.
Press reports from July 2026 say the KP Health Department plans the campaign for November 2026, with 1.6 million girls in school and 1.3 million out of school. They describe school sessions, community outreach, mobile teams and fixed sites at public health facilities.
We tried the KP Health Department website on 27 September 2026, and it did not load a readable page for us. We found no KP notice with exact dates. So treat November 2026 as the reported plan, not a fixed date. Your daughter's school or the nearest Basic Health Unit (BHU) will know first.
WHO also said that, after the campaigns, the plan is to add the vaccine to routine immunisation for 9-year-old girls. The FDI website did not yet show HPV in its routine schedule when we checked, so we cannot say every EPI centre stocks it today.
How to get your daughter vaccinated now
If you live in KP, Balochistan or Gilgit-Baltistan, wait for your province's campaign and watch for a notice from her school. If you live in Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad or AJK and she missed 2025, ask at a government health facility or call 1166.
- Check her age. She should be at least 9 and not older than 14.
- Ask her school or madrassa whether a vaccination session is planned, and on what date.
- If she is not in school, visit the nearest government health centre or BHU and ask the EPI vaccinator.
- Call the Sehat Tahaffuz helpline, 1166, if you cannot find a site or have a question.
- After the injection, watch for a sore arm or mild fever, and contact the health centre if anything feels serious.
During the 2025 campaign, the FDI said vaccination ran Monday to Saturday, 9am to 4pm. Hours in the next phase may differ, so confirm locally. The vaccine itself stays free, so nobody should ask you for money for it.
The HPV vaccine is a prevention tool, not a treatment. It is a different thing from hospital cover such as the Sehat Card or the other free health programmes in Punjab, which pay for treatment after someone falls ill.
HPV vaccine safety and side effects
WHO has prequalified the vaccine, meaning it passed WHO's quality and safety checks. The FDI lists only mild, short side effects: pain or redness where the injection goes, mild fever, and brief tiredness or dizziness. These usually pass within a few days.
The FDI says paracetamol can help with pain or fever. For anything more serious, it tells parents to go to the nearest health centre or call 1166. UNICEF gives the same message: side effects are like those of other vaccines.
On religious questions, the FDI says the vaccine is halal and approved by religious scholars. It says 144 countries use it, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. WHO puts the number of countries using it at more than 150.
The FDI also answers two common worries. A girl with a mild illness or light fever can still get the vaccine. And a girl who already had an HPV vaccine can safely get the campaign dose.
Common questions
Is the HPV vaccine free in Pakistan?
Yes. The FDI says the vaccine is completely free for eligible girls, paid for by the Government of Pakistan. Nobody should charge you for it at a school or government health facility.
What age is the HPV vaccine for in Pakistan?
Girls aged 9 to 14 years. WHO says the long-term plan is to give it routinely to girls at age 9.
How many doses of the HPV vaccine does a girl need?
One. The FDI says the government's approved schedule is a single dose.
When is the HPV vaccine campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
WHO and UNICEF say KP is in 2026. November 2026 has been reported as the month, but we did not find an official KP notice with exact dates.
Can my daughter get the HPV vaccine if she missed the 2025 campaign?
Ask your nearest government health facility or call 1166. We could not confirm that every routine EPI centre stocks it yet.
Does the HPV vaccine have side effects?
Mild ones: a sore or red arm, mild fever, or short tiredness or dizziness. The FDI says these usually go within a few days.
Last checked and sources
Last checked on 27 September 2026. The campaign dates of 15 to 27 September 2025, the four regions, the 9 to 14 age group and the free, safe and effective wording are read on the FDI's HPV campaign page. The single dose, the 9am to 4pm hours, the sites, the vaccinators, the side effects, the halal statement, the 144 countries, the cancer ranking and the 1166 helpline are read in the FDI's Urdu question sheet linked from that page. The 90% goal, the 49,000 health workers, the 8 deaths a day, the plan for routine immunisation at age 9 and the KP 2026 and Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan 2027 phases are read in WHO Pakistan's launch release of 16 September 2025 and UNICEF Pakistan's release of 15 September 2025. The 9.2 million, 71%, extension and 18 district figures are government data reported by Gavi. The KP November 2026 date and 2.9 million target are press reports only.
About the author
Author
Fajr Riaz is a well-talented author at Pakera.pk with expertise in creative content creation/writing and storytelling. Fajr's strength lies in creating engaging articles, detailed guides, and straight narratives that connect with readers and give meaningful insights. With her accurate attention to detail and passion for writing, Fajr has established herself as a pivotal pillar at Pakera and is invaluable.
