KidGuard: A Digital Immunization Hub for Rural Health Units

Immunization remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, yet gaps in coverage persist due to systemic inefficiencies in record-keeping, communication, and monitoring. In rural health units (RHUs) in the Philippines, reliance on paper-based immunization registries hinders timely reporting and contributes to missed vaccinations. This study describes the design, development, and evaluation of KidGuard, a digital vaccination and information hub tailored for the Peñaranda RHU in Nueva Ecija. Guided by the Design and Development Research (DDR) framework and implemented through Agile Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), KidGuard was built with core features including electronic child vaccination records, automated SMS reminders, and simplified reporting tools. System evaluation was conducted among RHU staff and parents using an ISO/IEC 25010-based instrument. Results indicate substantial improvements compared to the manual system, with highest gains in report generation speed (+3.5), transferability of records (+3.2), and communication of schedules (+2.6). Overall, KidGuard scored within the Agree to Strongly Agree range across all eight quality dimensions, with functionality (4.7) and usability (4.6) receiving the highest ratings. The findings affirm that a localized digital immunization hub can address persistent challenges in rural health service delivery. By enhancing efficiency, reliability, and communication, KidGuard not only strengthens the RHU’s immunization program but also aligns with national efforts such as DigiVacc and global agendas like Immunization Agenda 2030. Future work should explore interoperability with national health platforms and expansion into broader maternal and child health tracking.