A tragic incident in the rural area of Saddurabad, Taluka Thul, Jacobabad, has sparked grief and alarm as a teenage girl died shortly after receiving the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The vaccine was administered by a local health department team, reportedly as part of a government campaign to prevent cervical cancer. However, shortly after the vaccination, two sisters Samira and Naseeman fell critically ill. Samira could not survive, while Naseeman remains in critical condition.
According to the grieving family, the health department team had initially visited their home a few days earlier but left after the male members of the household refused to allow the vaccination. However, the team allegedly returned the next day when no male family members were present. They reportedly assured the women in the household that the vaccine was completely safe and proceeded to vaccinate three sisters Samira, Naseeman, and Musarrat.
Soon after receiving the vaccine, Samira and Naseeman began experiencing severe reactions and were rushed to a private hospital in Sukkur. Sadly, Samira passed away during treatment.
Her body was taken to the Thul Taluka Hospital for post-mortem and was later handed over to the family for burial. Samira’s uncle, Gul Meer, told reporters that the family holds the vaccination team responsible, claiming the vaccine was administered forcibly and directly led to the girl’s death.
In response to the incident, Dr. Raj Kumar, Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in Sindh, stated that the same HPV vaccine is used safely in over 150 countries worldwide, with no similar adverse reactions reported. Nevertheless, given the gravity of the situation, a six-member investigation team including representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) has arrived in Jacobabad to probe the matter.
The investigation team comprises Dr. Saouz Ali Jakhrani, Dr. Muhammad Tariq Memon, Dr. Ayaz Ahmed Memon, Dr. Saima Solangi, Dr. Ameer Kumar, and Abdul Shakoor. The team is currently reviewing all medical records, procedures, and possible causes behind the incident.
As the community mourns the loss of a young life, all eyes are now on the investigation report, which is expected to determine whether the death was truly linked to the vaccine or if another medical cause was at play.