Google Launches Data Analytics Solution to Expand Vaccine Access

Google Cloud has announced the Intelligent Vaccine Impact solution, a set of data analytics technologies to help regional and local governments ensure vaccine availability and deliver successful COVID-19 public health strategies.

“Google has supported communities and public health organizations throughout the pandemic through research grants, telehealth support, and more. And as the global challenge to immunize millions of people continues to rise, we’re proud to extend our commitment by today announcing Google Cloud’s Intelligent Vaccine Impact solution,” Mike Daniels, vice president of the global public sector at Google Cloud, wrote in a recent blog post.

“The Intelligent Vaccine Impact solution helps increase vaccine availability and equitable access to those who need it, and assists governments in building awareness, confidence, and acceptance of vaccines. We designed our solution to easily integrate with existing technologies, knowing that governments will administer their vaccine distributions in unique ways.”

The first part of the Intelligent Vaccine Impact solution involves COVID-19 forecasting and analysis. Researchers developed a novel, time-series, machine learning approach that combines artificial intelligence with a foundation of epidemiology.

“We also developed an AI-driven ‘what-if’ model to be used for COVID-19 response and other infectious disease policy intervention decision-making, using our Application Modernization platform with Anthos, Kubernetes, and BigQuery,” said Daniels.

State epidemiologists and public health officials can now aggregate the results of these models in BigQuery with both public and private datasets to drive better policy decisions.

Government leaders can then see how the forecasts change in response to policy changes, like mask mandates or vaccination programs. Public sector leaders can also create custom forecasts for their counties and public health organizations. This component of the solution is designed to help leaders make more informed and effective decisions.

The second part of the Intelligent Vaccine Impact solution is the vaccine information portal, Daniels noted.

“The COVID-19 vaccine release has brought a flood of questions and concerns from the public to government agencies. As people search for answers on public web pages, call health departments, and react to announcements on social media, many local governments have been overwhelmed,” he wrote.

“Working in partnership with SpringML, MTX, Deloitte, and other partners, Google Cloud has built several vaccine information portals—part of the Intelligent Vaccine Impact solution—that help people learn about vaccine availability, determine if they qualify, sign up for vaccination, and submit their information so that when they are eligible they can be vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

Using core Google Cloud serverless technologies, these portal websites allow for seamless scalability to meet the needs of thousands to hundreds of thousands of constituents registering simultaneously.

Once constituents have visited the vaccine information portal, they then interact with the scheduling management component of the Intelligent Vaccine Impact solution. Google Cloud’s Dialogflow and Contact Center AI intelligent virtual agents provide call-in lines that can help people determine their eligibility, get registered, and schedule vaccine appointments even if they aren’t able to get online.

To assist in scheduling and reminders, standard text messaging notifications can help patients remember appointments and vaccine information.

“The solution also offers convenient online registration and pre-screening, location searches, and appointment setting, as well as automated reminders. And it supports QR codes or the creation of unique patient IDs that accelerate check-in, as well as the ability to quickly book booster appointments,” Daniels wrote.

The fourth and final component of the Intelligent Vaccine Impact solution features Sentiment Analysis that offers a central source of insight for constituent sentiment and feedback.

“Constituents engage with government organizations across a wide variety of communications systems, including call centers, websites and apps, chatbots, advertising campaigns, social media, search, and news feeds,” Daniels said.

“With Google’s sentiment analysis tool, government organizations can direct communications efforts that provide clear and accurate information to specific audiences, addressing specific concerns as they arise. Understanding changing beliefs and behaviors throughout the vaccination lifecycle allows agencies to enable a more tailored and informed vaccination campaign.”

Google Cloud is already deploying the Intelligence Vaccine Impact solution in a number of states, including North Carolina. The state is using the technology to streamline its vaccine rollout.

“Our newest effort is to develop a process and technology to streamline accessing information for North Carolinians,” said Sam Gibbs, deputy secretary for Technology and Operations, State of North Carolina.

“This technology will provide a central location for residents to find information such as when it is their turn to get their vaccine or guidance to easily locate a vaccination location.”

As states and communities develop their vaccine distribution plans, tech giants like Google will likely play a significant role in helping to design immunization programs.

“We’re proud to support this critical mission, and to put resilient infrastructure in place to face the challenges around COVID-19 vaccinations,” Daniels concluded.

“Google Cloud’s Intelligent Vaccine Impact solution builds on our strong foundation of projects supporting state and local health agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we remain committed to assisting public health agencies nationwide.”