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The role technology could play in increasing vaccination awareness and uptake rates among adults and older people is the subject of a new report published during World Immunisation Week (24-30 April).
The report – Data, bots and drones – was published by the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC) and supported by a grant from Sanofi. Highlighting the growing anti-vaccination sentiments that have been impacting immunisation uptake worldwide, the ILC argues that tackling digital exclusion is key to maximising the potential of technology to improve health. Technology offers opportunities to overcome barriers to vaccination uptake and counter misinformation and fake news on the value of vaccination, it says.
Michael Greenberg, head of global medical strategy at Sanofi Pasteur, said: “Digital is part of our everyday life and vaccination at any age is a bedrock of public health. Using technology to find better ways to improve immunization coverage among adults is just common sense.
“In our work with Google we see that machine learning can help understand drivers and barriers to vaccination. Wearable data, such as from fitness trackers, can provide insights on the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases.
“It’s exciting to see the work that ILC-UK has done in understanding the opportunities to be realised in this fast-moving area.”