SIGVAC: Managerial System for Vaccinations to Monitor and Ensure Successful Child Immunization and Reduce Infant Mortality in Peru

Vaccine-preventable diseases result in over 1.5 million deaths in children under 5 annually (WHO 2015). In Peru, vaccine coverage of children under 12 months can reach as low as 44% in remote areas without access to immediate health services (MINSA 2013). Limited vaccine coverage is a multi-pronged issue, resulting from limited knowledge about and access to vaccines as well as deficits in immunization systems.We propose to design and implement a system integrating mobile devices with an electronic database of immunization histories. Drawing upon an existing system of biometric identification and electronic database that has been used to successfully monitor tuberculosis treatment regimens, we will train and incentivize community health workers (CHW) to administer vaccines and equip them with the mobile technology. CHWs will use biometric identification technology to register newborns and maintain immunization histories. This technology can also be used by parents/caregivers of children and CHWs to communicate in order to send reminders of upcoming scheduled vaccinations and address questions or concerns. Previous interventions have demonstrated the success of biometric identification for tracking vaccine schedules outside of the Americas. If the initial pilot of this intervention successfully increases coverage and completion of vaccine regimens by coupling biometric technology with CHWs, it can be easily scaled to to address other health problems throughout and beyond Peru.