# VaxEPI: Integrated Vaccine Registration & Vaccination Information (Bangladesh) ## 1) What VaxEPI Is (Overview) VaxEPI is Bangladesh DGHS’s public-facing portal (introduced in **2024**) for **integrated vaccine registration** and **vaccination information management**. It covers both **routine EPI** (Expanded Programme on Immunization) and **special campaigns**. VaxEPI is a **single-time registration** system: a child is registered once and remains trackable across programs and facilities. Registration is verified against the **Birth Registration Number (BRN)** to ensure identity integrity and deduplication. VaxEPI is interoperable with the national **Shareable Health Record (SHR)**, so each registered child receives a **Unique Health ID**; all vaccination events appear in the **Health Information Exchange (HIE)** for authorized use. Families receive a **vaccine card with a QR code**; vaccinators record doses and scan the QR to update the central record. Digital **vaccination certificates** are made available via the [VaxEPI portal](https://vaxepi.gov.bd), following EHR-style access patterns. Special campaigns such as **HPV**, **TCV (Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine)**, and **meningitis vaccine for Hajj pilgrims** are also managed through VaxEPI. **Retrieval cues:** “single-time registration”, “BRN verification”, “SHR Unique Health ID”, “QR vaccine card”, “routine EPI + campaigns”, “digital certificate”, “HIE availability”. --- ## 2) Core Objectives * **Universal, deduplicated identity for children** via BRN → SHR → Unique Health ID. * **Continuity of care**: one longitudinal vaccination timeline per child across facilities. * **Operational efficiency**: unified workflows for routine and campaign activities. * **Data quality & exchange**: real-time updates to HIE; fewer missed doses/duplicates. * **Citizen convenience**: QR-coded card and downloadable vaccination certificate. --- ## 3) Scope & Program Coverage * **Routine EPI**: BCG, OPV/IPV, Penta, PCV, MR, etc. (country schedule applies). * **Special campaigns**: **HPV**, **TCV**, and **meningitis/Hajj** drives, plus other MoHFW/DGHS-approved campaigns. * **Population focus**: primarily **children**; program extensions may include adolescents or adults for specific campaigns (e.g., Hajj). --- ## 4) Identity & Registration Model **Inputs:** Child’s **BRN**, name (Bangla/English), date of birth, sex, guardian details, address/upazila/district, contact number(s). **Verification:** Online verification of **BRN** (preventing duplicates). **Linkage:** On successful registration, VaxEPI requests/receives a **Unique Health ID** from **SHR**. **Artifacts:** **QR-coded vaccine card** (physical and/or digital). **Card Use:** QR encodes persistent identifiers (e.g., Health ID and VaxEPI record ID) to enable fast retrieval and updates at point of care. --- ## 5) Vaccination Workflow (Facility & Field) 1. **Presentation:** Caregiver brings the child and **QR card** to a session (facility or outreach). 2. **Assessment:** Vaccinator reviews **due/overdue doses** (per age and schedule) in VaxEPI. 3. **Administration:** Vaccine is given; **dose details** are recorded (vaccine code, dose #, lot/batch, expiry, route, site). 4. **Update:** Vaccinator **scans the QR**; VaxEPI loads the child record and **posts the dose event**. 5. **Sync & Exchange:** Event is written to VaxEPI and **propagated to HIE/SHR**. 6. **Certificate:** A refreshed **digital vaccination certificate** becomes available in the portal. --- ## 6) Citizen Experience * **Discoverability:** Public portal for registration and certificate download. * **Proof of vaccination:** **QR-coded card**; digital **certificate** view/print. * **Portability:** Records visible across facilities due to SHR Health ID. * **Notifications (if enabled):** SMS or portal prompts for upcoming/overdue doses. --- ## 7) Interoperability & Data Exchange * **SHR (Shareable Health Record):** creation/lookup of **Unique Health ID**. * **HIE (Health Information Exchange):** publishes vaccination events for authorized systems. * **Standards & semantics:** consistent vaccine codes, dose definitions, and schedule logic to support analytics and exchange. * **Result:** Authorized providers and national analytics can **query longitudinal vaccination history** for service continuity and planning. --- ## 8) Special Campaigns (HPV, TCV, Hajj Meningitis) * **Registration:** Uses the **same child record** (no duplicate accounts). * **Targeting:** Eligibility computed by **age/sex/risk group** (e.g., adolescent girls for **HPV**, child age bands for **TCV**, **pilgrim status** for Hajj). * **Delivery:** VaxEPI supports **bulk session lists**, on-site verification via **QR**, and rapid **dose posting**. * **Reporting:** Campaign-specific dashboards can aggregate coverage, dropout, and stock usage. --- ## 9) Governance, Roles & Access * **DGHS/MIS ownership**; national data stewardship. * **Roles:** Registrar (front desk), Vaccinator, Facility Manager, District/Upazila EPI Manager, National Analyst. * **Access controls:** Role-based permissions for read/write; certificate access controlled via authenticated portal flow and/or verifiable QR link. * **Auditability:** All vaccination events and edits have **provenance** (who/when/where). --- ## 10) Data Quality & Safety Nets * **Identity deduplication:** BRN check at registration; “possible duplicate” flags. * **Schedule validation:** Client-side/server-side checks for **age-appropriate** dosing and minimum intervals. * **Lot controls:** Prevent posting events for **expired** lots; require lot/batch. * **Correction workflow:** Voiding/mending mis-entries with reason and audit trail. --- ## 11) Privacy & Security (High Level) * **PII handling:** Minimal necessary disclosure; **BRN** and **Health ID** protected. * **QR contents:** Encodes identifiers or verifiable token, not full PII. * **Transport/storage:** Encrypted channels; secure storage per national policy. * **Access:** Role-based access; certificate retrieval bound to guardian verification or QR proof. --- ## 12) Typical User Journeys **A) First-time Registration** 1. Guardian opens [VaxEPI](https://vaxepi.gov.bd) → enters **BRN** and child details → system verifies BRN. 2. VaxEPI fetches/assigns **Unique Health ID (SHR)**. 3. VaxEPI issues **QR-coded vaccine card**; child appears on due-list. **B) Dose Administration** 1. Child presents **QR card** → vaccinator scans → due doses displayed. 2. Dose given → vaccinator records details → **event saved** → **HIE updated**. 3. Certificate refreshed → guardian can **download** from portal. **C) Special Campaign (e.g., HPV)** 1. Eligibility auto-determined → session roster generated. 2. On site, **QR scan** retrieves record → dose posted. 3. Coverage reports update in near-real time. --- ## 13) Frequently Asked Clarifications (for RAG) * **Q:** Is VaxEPI only for routine EPI? **A:** No. It supports **routine EPI** and **special campaigns** (HPV, TCV, Hajj meningitis). * **Q:** Do parents need to register for every campaign? **A:** **No.** VaxEPI is **single-time registration**; campaigns reuse the same **Health ID**. * **Q:** How is identity verified? **A:** Via **Birth Registration Number (BRN)**; then linked to **SHR** to issue a **Unique Health ID**. * **Q:** How are vaccination events captured? **A:** Vaccinator **scans the QR card** and records details; the system posts to VaxEPI and **HIE**. * **Q:** Where can I get the vaccination certificate? **A:** From the **VaxEPI portal** at [https://vaxepi.gov.bd](https://vaxepi.gov.bd), updated after each dose. * **Q:** What if a dose was recorded incorrectly? **A:** There is a **void/correction** process with full **audit trail**. --- ## 14) Abbreviation Glossary * **BRN:** Birth Registration Number * **DGHS:** Directorate General of Health Services * **EHR:** Electronic Health Record * **EPI:** Expanded Programme on Immunization * **HIE:** Health Information Exchange * **HPV:** Human Papillomavirus vaccine (campaign) * **MoHFW:** Ministry of Health and Family Welfare * **QR:** Quick Response code * **SHR:** Shareable Health Record * **TCV:** Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine --- ## 15) One-Paragraph Summary (for fallback retrieval) VaxEPI (launched 2024 by DGHS/MIS) is Bangladesh’s integrated portal for vaccine registration and vaccination information, covering routine EPI and special campaigns (HPV, TCV, Hajj meningitis). Registration is verified by BRN; each child is issued a Unique Health ID from the national Shareable Health Record (SHR). Vaccinators give doses and scan a QR-coded vaccine card to update the record; events sync to the Health Information Exchange (HIE). Families can download an up-to-date digital vaccination certificate from the [VaxEPI portal](https://vaxepi.gov.bd). VaxEPI’s single-time registration, SHR linkage, and QR-based point-of-care updates make it a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s digital health implementation.