Official sources say the Ministry of National Health Services took serious notice of the increasing negative campaign against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The ministry officially approached the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), ordering its Cyber Crime Wing to take swift action against those social media accounts spreading false information.

The authorities have assured that the Cyber Crime Wing has been directed to locate accounts that propagate misinformation, suspend them promptly, and initiate criminal cases against them. Arrests can also be initiated where propaganda is found to have a severe impact on public health.

Health authorities pointed out that false information regarding the HPV vaccine is spreading extensively on the internet, offsetting the government s immunization campaign. They emphasized that the dissemination of false information may deter parents from vaccinating their daughters and thus put millions of young girls in Pakistan at risk to their health.

Also Read: Cervical cancer vaccination campaign: Side effects and possible risks

It is pertinent to note that Pakistan has launched its first-ever nationwide cervical cancer vaccination campaign, targeting over 10 million girls between the ages of 9 to 14 years.

The campaign kicked off on September 15 and will go on till September 27 with an aim to immunize young girls from a condition that quietly takes thousands of lives annually.