When Pakistan launched its first nationwide HPV vaccination campaign in September, health officials saw it as a major milestone in the country’s fight against cervical cancer. Targeting girls aged 9 to 14, the program aligns with the global goal of the World Health Organization to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.
Nevertheless, with several vaccine rollouts, the campaign was quickly after a wave of misinformation. The principles of conspiracy, political rhetoric and viral social media posts have suspected the safety of the vaccine, especially hesitant.
The DW Fact Czech examined some of the most viral claims and what is behind this wrong.
AI-Janit Video Vaccine Spread rumors
claim: The HPV vaccine is dangerous and unproven.
A wide shared Tiktok video Saying a man tells: “The problem is that HPV vaccine can cause severe adverse reactions.”
The clip then cuts an AI-borne news anchor that claims: “An American doctor has expressed concern about giving HPV vaccine to young girls,” and claims that TK has never stopped a case of cervical cancer.
DW fact check: Untrue
The video originates from an inappropriate Instagram account that publishes the AI-renovated clip without spreading any claims regularly. The DW was verifying the identity of the so -called doctor.
Extensive Research by European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)And German Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stico) Oppose these claims. Studies associated with children and adults have no serious side effects associated with HPV vaccine. A 2024 study The involvement of about 3.5 million people confirmed that HPV infections and preceding lesions in the vaccine have been significantly reduced, which can cause cervical cancer.
Dr. of Pakistan’s Health Service Academy in Islamabad. Mohammad Ahmed Abdullah said, “HPV vaccine and infertility have no connection based on scientific research or the ability to conceive has reduced.”
Despite extensive scientific consent on vaccine Safety and effectivenessSome medical professionals have expressed concern about side effects, long -term efficacy, costs and justification for mass vaccination. These concerns -enhanced by wrong information -This includes the possibility of promoting autoimmune disorders, infertility, or early sexual activity. However, regulatory bodies such as European Medicines Agency There is no evidence of connecting the vaccine to severe neurological conditions.
Local politician infertility promotes myth
claim: The vaccine causes infertility.
Rashid Mehmood Somaro, Ultra Orthodox Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal) of a Pakistani politician The party in Sindh province claimed that the HPV vaccine causes infertility. Speaking early in a public programThis month, he criticized the campaign as suspicious and harmful.
DW fact check: Unlike
Scientific evidence does not return this claim. A Review of colleague American studies found no connection between HPV vaccination and infertility in women between the ages of 18 to 33 years. Similarly, the World Health Organization’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety Has concluded There is no evidence that connects HPV vaccination with ovarian insufficiency.
Viral school video incorrectly presents events
claim: A viral video shows girls unconscious after receiving HPV vaccine.
A video with over 330,000 ideas X (East Twitter) Shows the schoolgirls collapsing after vaccination. So it has been crossed Instagram And Facebook, Reaching thousands of users.
DW fact check: Untrue
The footage is unrelated to the HPV campaign. A reverse image search revealed that the clip is from last year. DW fact check traced Video versionBack to May 2024. Both Pakistani And Indian Told that in this incident, the police faced the police on electricity taxes. Tear gas shells affected a nearby school, causing a crisis in women students.
History of vaccine mistrust
Pakistan’s struggle with vaccine skepticism is deeply. In 2019, false rumors about polio vaccines led to violent attacks on health workers. And in 2011, A cover Cia operation Presenting as a hepatitis B vaccination drive in Abbottabad – Osama bin Laden intends to collect DNA in hunting – further erased the public trust.
Today, it shades the wrong HPV campaign. Officials fear that misinformation may derail efforts to protect millions of girls from cervical cancer -related viruses – one of the major causes of women of cancer death in Pakistan.
“Every year, around 5000 women in Pakistan find out cervical cancer, and about 60 % of them are among them,” DW reported. This figure is supported by national HPV data.
Pakistan is not alone. Europe has been identified in some studies Vaccine as the lowest confident area in safety. In Germany, Robert Coach Institute (RKI) Notes that have low HPV vaccination rates, to promote initiatives like “investment HPV”.
Pakistani government moves forward
Despite the challenges, Pakistan is pressing forward. At a television press conference on 20 September, he was publicly with Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal. Daughter vaccinated Against HPV to promote vaccine safety. So he addressed a wave of misinformation around the vaccine campaign.
Irfan Haider Sheraji and Alima D Greff Contributed to this report
Edited by: Rachel Baig