Prototype brings ‘immunisation calculator’ one step closer to helping migrant children catch up on vaccination schedule
The creators of a new immunisation catch-up calculator are celebrating an important project milestone. A prototype for the online tool has now been completed and a clinical audit has begun. The tool has the potential to bring immigrant children in line with the New Zealand vaccination schedule, and reduce the associated administration workload for health care staff.
The new tool automates the existing manual process that involves both primary care and DHB support staff and can take up to a month to complete. By using the calculator, a practice nurse will be able to fast-track the catch-up process and offer vaccinations to a family all in the same visit; it will also save between 45 – 60 minutes of time for a DHB specialist immunisation nurse.
The calculator is the brainchild of Southern DHB staff members, Clinical Nurse Coordinator Vaccine Preventable Diseases Jillian Boniface and Public Health Analyst Dr Leanne Liggett, and has been developed in partnership with WellSouth Primary Health Network.
They first came up with the idea almost three years ago and were spurred into action after winning a Clinician’s Challenge national innovation award in 2017, a joint initiative by the Ministry of Health and Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ).
“The partnership with WellSouth has been invaluable” says Dr Liggett “Kyle Forde and his IT team have turned our dream into reality and both Jillian and I are hugely grateful to Kyle for his support with this project.”
Following the current clinical audit phase, the next stage of the project will be a pilot in the Southern region. While no decisions have been made yet about a wider rollout, the calculator has the potential to benefit as many as 10,700 migrant children in New Zealand.
“Migrants invariably arrive with immunisation records that don’t align with the New Zealand Schedule. We want all children living here to be fully vaccinated; this not only protects the child but also their family and our community.” says Ms Boniface.
“Planning immunisation catch ups is a complex, time consuming and manual process for busy practice nurses. An online calculator will simplify data management, improve workflow efficiencies, support timely clinical delivery and ensure the National Immunisation Register is updated.”
“The Ministry of Health Immunisation Team and Immunisation Advisory Centre have given their support to this initiative and encouraged us to pursue the concept.”
Health Minister David Clark who met with members of the team today, said the tool was a great way to improve health outcomes for newly arrived young New Zealanders.
“Vaccination is one of the best ways we can keep our children safe from dangerous diseases so it’s important that children arriving from overseas get the same protection as those born here.
“The other great thing about this calculator is that it allows our health care staff to do this work much more efficiently and in less time which is better for everybody.’’
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For more information please contact:
Vanessa Barratt, Southern DHB Senior Communications Advisor
027 836 4718
vanessa.barratt@southerndhb.govt.nz