Innovating beyond the Vaccine: VaxTrak puts value in the hands of patients and families

Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (NV&D) has developed a way to help parents, families and vaccine consumers track vaccinations using the iPhone®*.

NV&D IT Enterprise Service Delivery (ESD) partnered with Region North America Vaccines Marketing to develop VaxTrak, an iPhone application (or “app”) that allows families and individuals to better track and plan their vaccinations. The downloadable app is now available to US residents for free in the iTunes®* App Store, and marks the first entry by Novartis into this space.

Innovation beyond vaccines at NV&D

For Novartis, helping keep families healthy is realized as both a personal and professional goal. VaxTrak is a direct result of a personal and family need of Novartis Vaccines associates who have small children. When a team member’s young child needed immunization boosters, he asked why there was no better way to track the recommended schedule.

This void was filled by developing VaxTrak – the comprehensive tool that families lack. It not only provides users with a vaccine schedule and programmable reminders, it also recommends nearby locations to get a flu shot and provides additional information about vaccines and diseases at the touch of the screen. These elements make VaxTrak a useful, efficient and effective tool to manage personal and family immunization needs.

“The Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics IT team is always looking for new and better ways to help families and benefit public health,” explains the Head of ESD. “VaxTrak not only meets this objective, but it will also serve our goals to support our business.”

How does VaxTrak work?

The VaxTrak app is free to consumers, and is available via the iTunes App Store on your iPhone or computer.

The user creates a profile for each family member, including age, gender, blood type, physician contact, previous vaccines and insurance information, along with other optional data, ultimately creating a quick, mobile reference. All health data is stored on the iPhone, and is not shared with us.

Based on these profiles, VaxTrak creates a summary based on the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommended vaccines schedule, with a planning tool to keep you informed of upcoming immunizations.

To help patients and parents make informed decisions with their physicians, VaxTrak provides additional information about vaccines and potential implications of not vaccinating from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Shot Spots: GPS finds nearby flu clinics

To help customers protect themselves this flu season, VaxTrak uses GPS on the iPhone to locate nearby clinics offering and administering flu vaccines. Retailers offering vaccines, as well as other local clinics and pharmacies, are visible on Shot Spots as well as online at Flusource.com.

Shot Spots allows parents and family members to find a convenient location to receive a vaccine throughout the US, even when traveling.