COVID-19 Vaccination Data Management and Visualization Systems for Improved Decision-Making: Lessons Learnt from Africa CDC Saving Lives and Livelihoods Program

The DHIS2 system enabled real-time tracking of vaccine distribution and administration to facilitate data-driven decisions. Experts from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Management Information System (MIS) teams, with support from the Health Information Systems Program South Africa (HISP-SA), developed the continental COVID-19 vaccination tracking system. Several variables related to COVID-19 vaccination were considered in developing the system. Three-hundred users can access the system at different levels with specific roles and privileges. Four dashboards with high-level summary visualizations were developed for top leadership for decision-making, while pages with detailed programmatic results are available to other users depending on their level of access. Africa CDC staff at different levels with a role-based account can view and interact with the dashboards and make necessary decisions based on the COVID-19 vaccination data from program implementation areas on the continent. The Africa CDC vaccination program dashboard provided essential information for public health officials to monitor the continental COVID-19 vaccination efforts and guide timely decisions. As the impact of COVID-19 is not yet over, the continental tracking of COVID-19 vaccine uptake and dashboard visualizations are used to provide the context of continental COVID-19 vaccination coverage and multiple other metrics that may impact the continental COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The lessons learned during the development and implementation of a continental COVID-19 vaccination tracking and visualization dashboard may be applied across various other public health events of continental and global concern. Author SummaryIn our work, we developed a real-time tracking system for COVID-19 vaccination across Africa, using the DHIS2 platform to help guide data-driven decisions. This system, created by experts from the Africa CDC in collaboration with the Health Information Systems Program South Africa (HISP-SA), enables us to monitor and manage COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration continent-wide. With nearly 300 users from various levels of Africa CDC, the system allows authorized personnel to access relevant vaccination data tailored to their role, making the information easy to interpret and act upon. Our system includes four interactive dashboards that provide high-level summaries for top leadership and detailed views for program teams. These visual tools empower Africa CDC staff to make informed decisions, track progress, and address challenges in real-time. As COVID-19 remains a global concern, our platform provides crucial insights into vaccine coverage and related health metrics, demonstrating the potential for similar systems to enhance public health responses to future emergencies across Africa and beyond.