The Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) has considered introducing biometric technology in routine vaccination programs as part of efforts to not leave anyone behind in the process. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Rwanda is one of the countries with the best vaccine coverage in Africa.

WHO and UNICEF jointly released a report on July 18th which shows that Rwanda has 98% coverage for the Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis vaccine (DPT) which is used as the global marker for immunization coverage. 

According to the news report by The New Times, the manager of RBC’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), Hassan Sibomana said that they are carrying on with the usual efforts of trying to “not leave any child behind when it comes to vaccination”.

Mr. Hassan noted that some new technologies like biometrics may be introduced. “We wish to introduce new technologies such as the use of fingerprint technology to easily assess if a child was vaccinated. These technologies are being tested here and there,” he said. 

He also noted that Rwanda’s vaccination program is fully digitalized and if things go as planned they can find a way of linking it with biometric technology. “We are thinking about biometric technology as a new innovation and we need to have more discussions about it regarding things like where finances will come from,” he added. 

Other technology initiatives Rwanda is utilizing in its vaccination program include DHIS2, a software platform for gathering, reporting, analyzing, and sharing aggregate and individual-level data. With these technologies, statistics and public health data management is improved, which can help increase the coverage of immunization services by, for instance, keeping track of vaccine dropout so that prompt action can be taken.

Additionally, the political environment in Rwanda is influenced by distinctive elements of Rwandan culture including cooperation and accountability, which contribute to the success of the country’s national immunization program.

Sibomana claims that when RBC representatives carry out awareness campaigns upcountry, they ask the public to spot unvaccinated kids so that they can be immunized. Some of the goals the government has set for district administrations are connected to healthcare. Governmental organizations who are concerned will look into why a certain district isn’t functioning effectively.