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CANImmunize: Partnering with local public health to improve vaccination data


December 8, 2017


Reporting your children’s vaccination records to public health authorities can be a pain! Katherine Atkinson, Dr. Kumanan Wilson and their colleagues have made this easier by allowing parents of children aged 15 and under to report immunizations directly to Ottawa Public Health using the CANImmunize App and BORN Ontario. Their latest study, published in Healthcare Quarterly, shows that Ottawa parents used mobile reporting to submit vaccination records for more than 2,500 children over the course of two years. Their findings suggest that mobile apps may provide more timely and comprehensive immunization data compared to traditional methods. This first-of-its-kind feature continues to be available in Ottawa and is accessed by downloading the free CANImmunize app on iOS and Android devices. Learn more about CANImmunize.

Authors: Atkinson KM, El-Khatib Z, Barnum G, Bell C, Turcotte MC, Murphy MSQ, Teitelbaum M, Chakraborty P, Laflamme L, Wilson K.

Funding: The CANImmunize project is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and this research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Dr. Kumanan Wilson’s research is also supported by donations to Research to Improve Patient Care at The Ottawa Hospital.

The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion


The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.

University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas


The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca

Media Contact


Jennifer Ganton
Director, Communications and Public Relations
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73325
Cell: 613-614-5253
jganton@ohri.ca