A vaccination worker was assaulted by a group of women during the ongoing Human Papillomavirus immunisation campaign in Mandi Bahauddin on Thursday.
Police confirmed the incident took place at Chak No 38, where Lady Health Worker Ghulam Sughra was beaten and thrown to the ground while vaccinating children.
An FIR has been filed at Kuthiala Sheikhan Police Station under sections related to obstructing public servants and criminal intimidation, though no arrests were reported.
The complainant stated that one woman, identified as Parveen, led the attack with nearly 15 others, physically assaulting her and using abusive language.
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Authorities highlighted that vaccine hesitancy remains a major challenge in Pakistan, fuelled by misinformation, mistrust, and concerns over vaccine safety across communities.
The nationwide HPV campaign, launched in September, aims to vaccinate 90 percent of girls aged nine to fourteen across Punjab, Sindh, AJK, and Islamabad by year end.
The HPV vaccine, introduced in Pakistan in 2022, is central to efforts aimed at preventing cervical cancer and improving long term health outcomes for women.
Officials reiterated that the campaign will expand to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2026 and later to Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan, ensuring nationwide coverage by 2027.
