Vaccine Finder is a free, online service that allows users to search for locations where immunizations are available.

Project Overview 

Vaccine Finder works with clinics, pharmacies and health departments to ensure users have accurate and up-to-date information about where they can locate immunization services. The platform provides information for Influenza, Hepatitis A & B, HPV, MMR, Shingles, Tdap, Td, Meningococcal, Pneumococcal and Varicella vaccines. The goal is to make it easier for the public to find immunizations.

Vaccine Finder was originally created by Google in 2009 in response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic. Vaccine Finder was passed to HealthMap, a team of researchers, epidemiologists and software developers at Boston Children’s Hospital in 2012. HealthMap expanded the site in 2013 to include 10 additional adult vaccines and relaunch as Vaccine Finder.

Healthcare Context

While overall vaccination rates have increased over the years, vaccination coverage still falls short. For example, vaccination coverage in adults over 18 years old is approximately 45%, lower than the national objective.2

A key barrier to immunization is not knowing where you can find vaccine services. Vaccine Finder aims to removes that barrier, providing a resource for the public to know where to find immunizations, and hopefully improve vaccination rates in the U.S.

News

Interested in learning more about Vaccine Finder? 

Visit Vaccine Finder’s website here or send Vaccine Finder an email at vaccine@healthmap.org

Facebook | Twitter

References

  1. Huston JE, Mekaru SR, Kluberg S, Brownstein JS. Searching the Web for Influenza Vaccines: HealthMap Vaccine Finder. Am J Public Health. 2015;105(8):e134–e139. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.302466
  2. Flu Vaccination Coverage, United States, 2018–19 Influenza Season | FluVaxView | Seasonal Influenza (Flu) | CDC. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-1819estimates.htm