New PAHO Tool Improves Immunization Data in Remote Areas

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in collaboration with Peru’s Ministry of Health, has developed a digital application to enhance vaccination record management in communities with limited internet access. The pilot program of the “Vacuna Offline” app is being implemented in cross-border regions of Amazonas, Madre de Dios, and Loreto, aiming to improve the registration, use, and quality of immunization data.

The app enables health workers to record vaccination data directly at the point of care, even without an internet connection. Once connectivity is restored, the data synchronizes automatically with national health systems, ensuring timely and accurate information for planning and decision making. Developed under the World Health Organization’s  (WHO) SMART guidelines for interoperability, the tool seeks to strengthen national immunization systems and reduce administrative delays.

“This application represents not only an advance for Peru but a potential regional digital public good that can serve as a reference for other countries facing similar challenges,” says Piedad Huerta, Chief of the Country and Subregional Coordination Office, PAHO.

As part of the pilot phase, PAHO conducted a comparative analysis between traditional paper-based records and the new digital system. The results showed that health workers reduced time spent on registration by 30%, allowing more time to be dedicated to patient care. The app also improves traceability and data quality, marking a significant improvement over manual recordkeeping.

Huerta says that the evaluation “demonstrates the effectiveness and efficiency of the tool, showing how digital solutions can optimize immunization processes in settings with limited connectivity.” 

The initiative forms part of the broader project “Digital Innovation for Vaccination, Prevention and Control of Diseases in Cross-border Indigenous Communities: Amazon-Andean Proposal,” led by PAHO and Peru’s Ministry of Health, with strategic and financial support from German Development Cooperation (GIZ). The project aims to strengthen local health information systems and advance the digital transformation of immunization services in hard-to-reach communities.

PAHO expects that lessons learned from the pilot could inform similar implementations across other countries in the Americas, contributing to regional efforts to modernize public health infrastructure through scalable, technology-driven tools.