Rollins Researchers Introduce New Vaccine App: ReadyVax

“We wanted to create a single, trusted, go-to vaccine resource,” says Robert Bednarczyk, lead developer for ReadyVax, a new iOS-compatible smartphone app funded by the Emory Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center (PERRC).“ReadyVax applies to routine vaccine use, but is also a helpful resource in case of emergency,” he says.

Led by Saad Omer, the impetus for developing the app came from another new, PERRC-funded project that both Omer and Bednarczyk worked on called momvax.org—a vaccine resource for new and expectant mothers.
                                                         

ReadyVax works as a handy vaccination tool with regularly updated info about routine vaccines and the diseases they are used to prevent (including polio, meningitis, and shingles), as well as breaking vaccination news alerts, a commonly asked questions section, and links to additional resources.

Every time the app opens, an updated version is downloaded to the user’s device. So, people using the app always have quick access to ReadyVax resources. “This is a really unique aspect to the app,” says Bednarczyk. “Since the information is stored there on your phone, if you have to go out in the field and don’t have access to a network, you’ll still be able to access the information.”

The app is not just for people working in health care: Messages are tailored for physicians, pharmacists, and patients and parents in the general public. Thanks to its user-friendly navigation and easy-to-understand descriptions, Bednarczyk and Omer hope ReadyVax will become a reliable go-to resource for anyone looking to learn a little bit more about vaccinations and vaccine news.

Next up, the duo has plans to develop a promotional intervention app that focuses on educating tweens about vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis; meningitis; and human papillomavirus, as well as building off of the MomVax project to develop a new app to help pregnant women make vaccination decisions for themselves and their children.