REPORTING TEMPLATE
HEALTH DELIVERY RESEARCH
ACTIVATION GRANT – END OF CONTRACT REPORT
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HRC reference number: 20/1286
First named investigator: Michael Tatley
What category best describes the research activation activity?
Vaccine safety surveil ance; Smartphone aided health survey; Real time vaccine adverse event
surveil ance, Immunisation program support; Vaccine safety epidemiology; Surveil ance technology
development
This section should be limited to single terms or words. Please categorise/state the type(s) of
activity/activities that have been undertaken. Examples include (but not limited to) relationship
development, priority setting, literature review, skil /capacity building
.
Contract requirements
Has the activation activity specified in the original application been completed as
intended? If not, please detail key changes.
The activation project has been completed as set out in the proposal. It was delayed initially due to
COVID impacts on the researchers and COVID logistics in bringing a Pilot/Beta GP practice online.
This was resolved and the project ran to completion to demonstrate satisfactory proof of deliverable
as planned
Were there any personnel changes to the team listed in your contract? If so, please
detail.
There were no personnel changes to the Team listed in the original application
Is your research related to a National Science Challenge?
The research was NOT related to a National Science Challenge
Impact of the research activation activity
@ 2021 Health Research Council of New Zealand. Al rights reserved.
REPORTING TEMPLATE
Please provide a description of your Research
Activation Grant achievements that the HRC can use
to communicate with non-specialist audiences.
The KIWIvax Proof of Concept has been achieved, Beta tested and demonstrated to be viable and
achieving the objectives set out in the Grant:
• Prototype based on the Australian SmartVax system was developed to suit New Zealand
requirements in generating SMS’s to vaccinees who responded to SMS questions. These
responders were then invited to answer questions tailored to the New Zealand setting about
any post vaccine adverse events that may have occurred.
• SmartVax software modified to suit work with New Zealand Medtech 32 Practice
Management Software (PMS) to identify vaccinees, generate the SMS and receive the
responses to the survey questions.
• New Zealand section of an Amazon Cloud database created to hold anonymised data from
SMS responses to enable analysis of data.
• Produced participating practice information and created set-up/instal ation manual and
“agreement to participate”
• Information/Participant Brochures and Clinic Practice information posters for KiwiVax
designed and produced for use
• Prototype software instal ed in Newtown Union Health Centre
• SMS messages were sent to 100 patients mobile phones from the KiwiVax system notified by
the PMS which was triggered by a vaccination recorded in the PMS.
• 41 patients responded to and interacted with survey questions
• The responses, despite the low response rate nevertheless confirmed proof of concept of the
technology as functional. However, the low response rate added to research questions o be
explored by this technology pilot
• Demonstrated ability to produce analyses and practice reports of responses
Has the Research Activation Grant resulted in any immediate benefits? If so, please
describe.
Proof of concept achieved. The research Team was able to realise:
1. The advantage of the advances in technology to support in assuring of the safety of each
vaccine
2. The collection of the cohort of patients administered each vaccine via an automated system.
3. That data was easily collected, col ated and analysed on a daily basis which in turn would
enable the KiwiVax team to monitor the safety profile in a timely presentation via a Dashboard
system updated daily
What is the potential future impact of this work and what plans do you have in place
to realise this impact? For example, the readiness to proceed with research based on
the outcome of the research activation activity and/or the planned next steps (noting
that this is a key focus of the Research Activation Grant)?
1. This project was of interest to the Ministry of Health COVID Vaccination Immunisation
Program, who used its basic elements and principles to form the core of a system constructed
only for the COVID vaccine and inside the Ministry’s dedicated COVID system.
2. There has been growing interest (currently 4) from other Primary Care practices who are keen
to have this system implemented in their PMS for non-COVID vaccines. As in the Australian
experience which grew in a similar manner from a handful to over 300, we look forward to
similar uptake (and ultimately uptake up by the National Immunisation Programme for routine
vaccines when the COVID vaccination pressures are reduced).
3. Consider the possibility of extending the applicability to PMS systems other than Medtech32
such as Indice which is gaining marketplace in Primary Care
@ 2021 Health Research Council of New Zealand. Al rights reserved.
REPORTING TEMPLATE
4. This tool and technology wil be piloted in medical
practices/PHO’s in NZ informing a research project
that wil determine its true functionality including user
& PHO experience and where possible reasons for non-responding
5. Further research projects wil demonstrate the utility and value of KiwiVax in supporting
vaccine safety surveil ance in New Zealand and the comparison of Australasian AEFI profiles
from KiwiVax and AusVaxSafety.
Have you received any follow-on funding to support next steps?
None at present
What was the main barrier(s) experienced by you, or your team, while completing this
research contract?
COVID and COVID Vaccination pressures and workload delayed the planned work plan for this
project in the initial stages affecting researchers and implementation site, determination and
commitment utilised opportunities where possible leading to a successful end point achievement of
the projects objectives.
What is the main barrier(s) to proceeding with the planned next steps?
Although our plan is for wider roll-out to those practices (and further) who have expressed interest,
the current impact of COVID on all aspects of health care is an obstacle to achieving this in the near
term.
Once further roll-out implementation becomes apparent a research protocol to address and expand
the research direction outlined earlier wil be drafted for funding application. The barrier to further roll-
out and research is limited currently by COVID pressure on capacity and funding support.
Feedback for the HRC
Do you have any comments on this funding opportunity regarding its accessibility
and appropriateness to support your research activation activity?
This funding opportunity widely publicised and easily accessible. This funding provided an excellent
vehicle and opportunity to progress a Proof of Concept to il ustrate its practical clinical viability, Health
System benefit and support future extension of its application. Such a tool will serve to inform the
national Immunisation Programme as wel as a source of data for ongoing research.
@ 2021 Health Research Council of New Zealand. Al rights reserved.
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