Vaccine Certificates Must Go Digital: An Urgent Call for Better Public Health Outcomes
AbstractFrom our roles within international public health organizations, we have collectively witnessed the global challenges presented by outdated health information systems, platforms, and applications. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly exposed the limitations of our current paper-based...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2024-11-01
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| Series: | JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| Online Access: | https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e65740 |
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| author | Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Júnior Sebastian Garcia-Saiso Myrna Marti Daniel Salas Marcela Contreras Martha Velandia-Gonzalez Daniel Luna Jennifer Nelson James Fitzgerald Ernesto Bascolo Ivy Lorena Talavera Romero May Chomali Walter H Curioso Fernando Plazzotta Carlos Otero Alejandro Lopez Osornio Tessa Lennemann Karen Salinas Marcelo D'Agostino |
| author_facet | Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Júnior Sebastian Garcia-Saiso Myrna Marti Daniel Salas Marcela Contreras Martha Velandia-Gonzalez Daniel Luna Jennifer Nelson James Fitzgerald Ernesto Bascolo Ivy Lorena Talavera Romero May Chomali Walter H Curioso Fernando Plazzotta Carlos Otero Alejandro Lopez Osornio Tessa Lennemann Karen Salinas Marcelo D'Agostino |
| author_sort | Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Júnior |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
AbstractFrom our roles within international public health organizations, we have collectively witnessed the global challenges presented by outdated health information systems, platforms, and applications. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly exposed the limitations of our current paper-based vaccine certification methods and highlighted the deficiencies of outdated technological platforms that lack interoperability standards, a situation that underscores the critical need for a digital transformation in how we manage and verify immunization records. Digital vaccination certificates are understood to be secure, electronically stored, and easily accessible records that provide verifiable proof of a person’s immunization status. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) envisions leveraging digital technologies to strengthen health systems, enhance data-driven decision-making, and improve health outcomes. The organization’s vision emphasizes the integration of innovative technologies to build resilient and responsive health systems capable of addressing modern public health challenges. In an era of unprecedented technological advancement, our continued reliance on paper-based vaccine certificates is not just anachronistic—it is a significant liability for global public health that impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of our health systems on multiple fronts, limiting our ability to respond to public health crises effectively. With the strategic guidance from its Member States, PAHO has agreed to move toward the digital transformation of the health sector across the entire continent with an initiative that aims to improve health outcomes, ensure equitable access to health services, and enhance the overall efficiency of health systems in the Americas. The roadmap for this digital transformation outlines strategic actions and goals to achieve a connected, efficient, and resilient health sector. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2bb96434847b4a4eab537fe24d40a364 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2369-2960 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| spelling | doaj-art-2bb96434847b4a4eab537fe24d40a3642024-12-03T20:02:10ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Public Health and Surveillance2369-29602024-11-0110e65740e6574010.2196/65740Vaccine Certificates Must Go Digital: An Urgent Call for Better Public Health OutcomesJarbas Barbosa da Silva Júniorhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3078-9642Sebastian Garcia-Saisohttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-4455-3080Myrna Martihttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7228-6795Daniel Salashttp://orcid.org/0009-0005-0315-793XMarcela Contrerashttp://orcid.org/0009-0001-0620-9740Martha Velandia-Gonzalezhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7636-3604Daniel Lunahttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-5468-9761Jennifer Nelsonhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-9493-8619James Fitzgeraldhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-6667-2182Ernesto Bascolohttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-4654-5810Ivy Lorena Talavera Romerohttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-7972-0569May Chomalihttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3921-1126Walter H Curiosohttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-3789-7483Fernando Plazzottahttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-8714-4960Carlos Oterohttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-0727-2538Alejandro Lopez Osorniohttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-8035-5204Tessa Lennemannhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-6725-8565Karen Salinashttp://orcid.org/0009-0009-5337-5731Marcelo D'Agostinohttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-6083-7713 AbstractFrom our roles within international public health organizations, we have collectively witnessed the global challenges presented by outdated health information systems, platforms, and applications. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly exposed the limitations of our current paper-based vaccine certification methods and highlighted the deficiencies of outdated technological platforms that lack interoperability standards, a situation that underscores the critical need for a digital transformation in how we manage and verify immunization records. Digital vaccination certificates are understood to be secure, electronically stored, and easily accessible records that provide verifiable proof of a person’s immunization status. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) envisions leveraging digital technologies to strengthen health systems, enhance data-driven decision-making, and improve health outcomes. The organization’s vision emphasizes the integration of innovative technologies to build resilient and responsive health systems capable of addressing modern public health challenges. In an era of unprecedented technological advancement, our continued reliance on paper-based vaccine certificates is not just anachronistic—it is a significant liability for global public health that impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of our health systems on multiple fronts, limiting our ability to respond to public health crises effectively. With the strategic guidance from its Member States, PAHO has agreed to move toward the digital transformation of the health sector across the entire continent with an initiative that aims to improve health outcomes, ensure equitable access to health services, and enhance the overall efficiency of health systems in the Americas. The roadmap for this digital transformation outlines strategic actions and goals to achieve a connected, efficient, and resilient health sector.https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e65740 |
| spellingShingle | Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Júnior Sebastian Garcia-Saiso Myrna Marti Daniel Salas Marcela Contreras Martha Velandia-Gonzalez Daniel Luna Jennifer Nelson James Fitzgerald Ernesto Bascolo Ivy Lorena Talavera Romero May Chomali Walter H Curioso Fernando Plazzotta Carlos Otero Alejandro Lopez Osornio Tessa Lennemann Karen Salinas Marcelo D'Agostino Vaccine Certificates Must Go Digital: An Urgent Call for Better Public Health Outcomes JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| title | Vaccine Certificates Must Go Digital: An Urgent Call for Better Public Health Outcomes |
| title_full | Vaccine Certificates Must Go Digital: An Urgent Call for Better Public Health Outcomes |
| title_fullStr | Vaccine Certificates Must Go Digital: An Urgent Call for Better Public Health Outcomes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vaccine Certificates Must Go Digital: An Urgent Call for Better Public Health Outcomes |
| title_short | Vaccine Certificates Must Go Digital: An Urgent Call for Better Public Health Outcomes |
| title_sort | vaccine certificates must go digital an urgent call for better public health outcomes |
| url | https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e65740 |
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