The Kenya Medical Research Institute has developed a digital biometric-based vaccination management system for newborn children.
The system developed in partnership with NEC Corporation and Nagasaki University in Japan is expected to effectively and seamlessly manage vaccination history and scheduling using fingerprint identification for newborn children and voice recognition for caregivers.
According to Kemri, the system uses NEC technology to classify fingerprint images collected from four fingers of a newborn into five categories according to the shape of each and then registers the fingerprint pattern data.
The four include the left thumb, right thumb, left index finger and the right index finger.
The system also combines pattern-based classification with NEC's voice recognition to improve accuracy when verifying the identity of caregivers and newborns.
Kemri, in a statement released on Tuesday, said the initial results from a clinical trial that began in September last year at the Kinango Subcounty Hospital in Kwale has shown very encouraging results.
As of November last year, data from more than 300 caregivers and newborns had been registered, including the vaccination histories of more than 150 newborns as per Kemri data.
The trial targets approximately 1,000 caregivers and newborns who elect to participate till March.
“The new technology combines fingerprint identification for children and voice recognition for caregivers to confirm not only their identity, but also to reliably manage vaccination histories and schedules,” Kemri said.
This, the research institute said, will help promote the implementation of appropriate vaccinations for newborns and children during the first 24 months of life.
“Going forward, demonstration tests that network among multiple hospitals will begin, aiming for full-scale introduction throughout Kenya by the end of 2023, and more international deployment in the future,” Kemri said.
According to Kemri acting director general Sam Kariuki, the system is also expected to support policy and action towards the attainment of better health outcomes and Universal Health Coverage.
"I am happy to announce that this tool will be validated by Kemri researchers in partnership with Kinango Subcounty Hospital in Kwale, NEC Corporation and Nagasaki University," Kariuki said.
The system utilises voice recognition to identify caregivers, as well as fingerprint patterns to ensure that newborns are appropriately matched with the identified caregivers.
Prof Miriam Khamadi Were has expressed optimism that the new vaccination management system will expand the coverage of vaccinations for children under 24 months old through accurate identification methods for mothers and children in Kenya.
“I also express great expectations for this research to act as a guideline for precise vaccination management featuring newborn and caregiver identification to become an important contributor to Universal Health Coverage," she said.
During the trial, the hospital records information on the physical characteristics of newborns at the time of birth as well as the history of and schedule for administration of eight different vaccines into the vaccination system.
The hospital is also expected to record one vitamin supplement up to 24 months after birth to verify the effectiveness of and issues related to the system.
The voice and fingerprint pattern data acquired will be used only for the current purpose of the trial and will be deleted after its completion.
The vaccination management system also seeks to help the country increase vaccination coverage thus reducing neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births.
(edited by Amol Awuor)