When Pakistan launched its first nationwide HPV vaccination campaign in September, health officials hailed it as a major milestone in the country's fight against cervical cancer. Targeting girls aged 9 to 14,  the program aligns with the World Health Organization's global goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.

Yet, as with many vaccine rollouts, the campaign was quickly followed by a wave of misinformation. Conspiracy theories, political rhetoric, and viral social media posts have cast doubt on the vaccine’s safety, leaving some communities hesitant to participate.

DW Fact check investigated some of the most viral claims and what's behind this mistrust.

AI-generated videos spread vaccine rumors

Claim: The HPV vaccine is dangerous and unproven.

A widely shared TikTok video features a man saying:  "The problem is that the HPV vaccine can be causing serious adverse reactions."

The clip then cuts to an AI-generated news anchor who claims: "An American doctor has raised concerns about giving HPV vaccine to young girls," and falsely asserts that vaccines have never prevented a single case of cervical cancer.

DW Fact check: False

The video originates from an unverified Instagram account that regularly publishes AI-generated clips spreading baseless claims without citing credible sources. DW was unable to verify the identity of the so-called doctor featured.

Extensive research by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and Germany's Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) contradict these claims. Studies involving children and adults have found no severe side effects linked to the HPV vaccine.  A 2024 study   involving nearly 3.5 million people confirmed that the vaccine significantly reduces HPV infections and precancerous lesions, which can lead to cervical cancer.

"There is no connection, based on scientific research, between the HPV vaccine and infertility or reduced ability to conceive,"  Dr. Mohammad Ahmad Abdullah of Pakistan's Health Services Academy in Islamabad, told DW.

Despite broad scientific consensus on the vaccine's safety and effectiveness, some medical professionals have raised concerns about side effects, long-term efficacy, cost, and the rationale for mass immunization. These concerns—often amplified by misinformation—have included fears of autoimmune disorders, infertility, or promoting early sexual activity. However, regulatory bodies such as the European Medicines Agency have found no evidence linking the vaccine to serious neurological conditions.

Local politician promotes infertility myth

Claim: The vaccine causes infertility.

Rashid Mehmood Soomro, a Pakistani politician from the ultra-conservative Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) party in Sindh province, claimed that the HPV vaccine causes infertility. Speaking at a public event earlierthis month, he criticized the campaign as suspicious and harmful.

DW Fact check: Unproven
Scientific evidence does not back this claim. A peer-reviewed U.S. study found no association between the HPV vaccination and infertility in women aged 18 to 33. Similarly, the World Health Organization’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety has concluded there is no evidence linking HPV vaccination to ovarian insufficiency.

Viral school video misrepresents events

Claim: A viral video shows girls fainting after receiving the HPV vaccine.

A video with over 330,000 views on X  (formerly Twitter)  appears to show schoolgirls collapsing after vaccination. It has also been shared across Instagram and Facebook, reaching thousands of users.

DW Fact check: False
The footage is unrelated to the HPV campaign.  A reverse image search revealed the clip is from last year. DW Fact check traced versions of the videoback to May 2024. Both Pakistani and Indian reported that the incident involved police clashing with protesters over electricity taxes. Tear gas shells affected a nearby school, causing distress among female students.

A history of vaccine mistrust

Pakistan’s struggle with vaccine skepticism runs deep. In 2019, false rumors about polio vaccines led to violent attacks on health workers reversing years of progress.  And in 2011, a covert CIA operation posing as a hepatitis B vaccination drive in Abbottabad—intended to collect DNA in the hunt for Osama bin Laden—further eroded public trust. 

Today, that mistrust shadows the HPV campaign. Officials fear that misinformation could derail efforts to protect millions of girls from a virus linked to cervical cancer—one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women in Pakistan.

"Each year, about 5,000 women in Pakistan are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and nearly 60 % of them die from it," Dr. Mohammad Ahmad Abdullah told DW. This figure is supported by national  HPV data. 

Pakistan is not alone. Europe has been identified in some studies as the region with the lowest confidence in vaccine safety. In Germany, the  Robert Koch Institute (RKI) notes that HPV vaccination rates remain low, prompting initiatives like "InveSt HPV" to boost uptake.

Pakistani government pushes forward

Despite the challenges, Pakistan is pressing ahead. At a televised press conference on September 20, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal had his daughter publicly vaccinated against HPV to prove the vaccine's safety. He also addressed the wave of misinformation surrounding the vaccine campaign.

Irfan Haider Sherazi and Alima de Graaf contributed to this report

Edited by: Rachel Baig