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Phase: Ideas Missions: Managing Risks and Building Resilience 


Vaxi: Potent Vaccine Taxi

A well monitored cold carrier system paired with an app that brings back trust in vaccination in the Philippines.

Photo of Marichu Carstensen
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This is the journey of a caregiver from being a vaccine doubter to a believer, user and finally, an immunization promoter. This is the journey of a caregiver from being a vaccine doubter to a believer, user and finally, an immunization promoter.
Vaxi carrier system with data logger that records the actual vaccine temperature inside while in The monitor will alarm at 7 Celsius. The caregiver can check the monitor as proof of good handling. Vaxi carrier system with data logger that records the actual vaccine temperature inside while in The monitor will alarm at 7 Celsius. The caregiver can check the monitor as proof of good handling.
A selfie with the caregiver and child taken with the app which indicates the real time temperature reading. This will be shared on social media as immunization promotion. A selfie with the caregiver and child taken with the app which indicates the real time temperature reading. This will be shared on social media as immunization promotion.
This is the video of how Vaxi was conceptualized.
The Vaxi vaccine carrier system set which includes a compact solution that lowers the risk of vaccine wastage by lessening heat exposure and freezing. It has a built in sensor with monitor, data logger and alarm. Its data logger monitors the actual temperature of the vaccine, and alarms at 7 degrees Celsius. by maintaining the optimal temperature proof of its viability is unassailable. The Vaxi vaccine carrier system set which includes a compact solution that lowers the risk of vaccine wastage by lessening heat exposure and freezing. It has a built in sensor with monitor, data logger and alarm. Its data logger monitors the actual temperature of the vaccine, and alarms at 7 degrees Celsius. by maintaining the optimal temperature proof of its viability is unassailable.

Describe what you intend to do and how you'll do it in one sentence (required 250 Characters)

MarLiCa Art Gym aims to use VAXI system to deliver potent vaccines, let the caregiver see proof of good handling within in the last mile transit, educate and promote immunization in the Philippines.

Explain the idea (less than 2,000 characters)

What do the users say?
This is my Vaxi journey.
WHO estimates, 2.6 million Filipino children under the age of 5 years are not protected from measles. In February 2019 only 60% of children were getting their scheduled vaccines. There were 31,056 measles cases including 415 deaths were officially reported between 1 January and 13 April 2019, . Last year’s vaccine scare may be connected to all of these. All over the radio, TV and social media, news of death ,allegedly caused by a new vaccine, spread. The caregivers are scared. Trust in immunization is at an all-time low resulting to more vaccine doubts among carers. We are targeting first time mothers who have never experienced the advantages of having a fully immunized child. They are 24-27 years old, living in rural areas. First, potent vaccines have to be readily available, once a caregiver brings a child to the session site and fails to get the vaccine, it is hard for them to come back again. Instances of vaccine wastage lead to a short supply especially in far flung areas. Vaxi, an efficient cold carrier that delivers potent and safe vaccines is the solution. This carrier will benefit 18 million children ages 0-14 who live in rural communities. The community health workers are the ones accountable for the preservation of the vaccines and are directly in contact to the carers. They will be equipped with Vaxi, a carrier with a unique cooling system and temperature sensor, monitor and data logger within. Carers can check the way it was handled through the temperature recordings. . Once better products and services are delivered, trust will be built between the health worker and caregiver. A solid proof that what they are getting is viable. The health worker will post a selfie with the recipient on Vaxi social media pages. The caregivers may tag themselves once they like the page. There, the target person will read more reliable information about the vaccines. Once shared it can spread like the measles virus. This will serve as an immunization trust promotion.

Which part(s) of the world does this idea target?

  • North Africa
  • Eastern Africa
  • Middle Africa
  • Southern Africa
  • Western Africa
  • Caribbean
  • Central America
  • South America
  • Central Asia
  • Eastern Asia
  • South-eastern Asia
  • Southern Asia
  • Oceania

Geographic Focus (less than 250 Characters)

Geographically isolated distant areas, island, lowland, upland,landlocked, hard to reach communities with high poverty incidence, presence of of vulnerable sector, communities in or recovering from situation of crisis.

Who are your end users and how well do you know them? (750 characters)

Vaxi target users Vaxi target users
The main asset of my country is its people. The health workers, though not adequately compensated, are smart, resilient, hardworking and dedicated to give quality service to the people. If we equip them with efficient and helpful tools to deliver the vaccines, they will be able to serve their people and gain the caregivers’ trust in return. With all the questions being raised in social media, caregivers get swayed and doubts are cast on the safety of vaccines. They need some kind of proof that can show them how the vaccines were handled. On demand, they can ask the health worker to show the data logger record. The Philippines, being a SELFIE nation, with people who loves being in sync with new technologies will surely be influenced.

How is the idea unique? (750 Characters)

Vaxi is unique in its design and features. MarLiCa Art gym is a community-based entity where creativity is encouraged, skills are being taught and collaboration is valued. Being a part of this, my experiences, as a doctor, an industrial designer and entrepreneur give us a big advantage. My network is vast and can be tapped to realize goals quickly. I am also a part of an app making company and the app needed for this can easily be made. I have the support of 2 Fab Labs and the people in it, my colleagues in medicine, Community health centers and now possible collaborations with some of the participants in this challenge! With the links among these channels, the possibilities are endless.

Idea Proposal Stage (Select 1)

  • Prototype: We have done some small tests or experiments with prospective users to continue developing the idea.

How many months are required for the project idea? (140 characters)

I need 2 years to create a working prototype and test the system.

Organization Name (less than 140 characters)

MarLiCa Art Gym is a community based creative space teaching various skills from basic drawing, painting, crafts and design led by myself.

Type of Submitter

  • We are a For-Profit Startup or Startup Social Enterprise

Organizational Characteristics

  • Female-led organization

Organization Location (less than 140 Characters)

MarLiCa Art Gym, Km. 75, Barangay Inosluban, Lipa City. Philippines

What is the current scale of your organization’s work?

  • Community (working within one or a few local communities within a region)

Website URL

marlicaartgym.com

Tell us more about your organization/company (1-2 sentences)

The idea of MarLiCa Art Gym started 20 years when I started an art club to teach basic drawing to young people around my community next to my clinic and I observed that those who experienced arts and crafts developed strong characters and became successful individuals. 3 years ago after finishing my Industrial Design degree, I decided to put up a sustainable set up with a vision to guide more people to pursue art and create. Vaxi's success will inspire more to delve into their creativity.

Who will work alongside your organization in the project idea? (750 characters)

I will partner with the Department of Health in Manila, so they can assign the test areas. I had the cooperation of Lipa City District Health Center and many health workers in my local community while evaluating Vaxi. They will carry out the actual usage tests necessary to validate the claims of the Vaxi to get reliable evaluation results. I started a group called Flight of Hope after the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda organized my doctor colleagues, mountaineering friends and the whole community to help in a medical mission, rescue/ rebuilding in Tacloban. We then followed it up by holding livelihood workshops and supplied them with rice seeds. In just a week, I was able to tap into my network to make a huge task seem so small.

How many people are on your team?

9

Tell us more about you and your team

OLM is an IT company based in Lipa City. It is a business process outsourcing company that has a department that solely makes applications. https://www.olmsolutions.com/ OLM is an IT company based in Lipa City. It is a business process outsourcing company that has a department that solely makes applications. https://www.olmsolutions.com/
Tito de la Pena, currently a professor in the University of the Philippines College of Fine Art, Industrial Design Department, one of the officers of Design Center Philippines and one of the organizers of HEED (Humanitarian Engineering Entrepreneurship and Design) https://cargocollective.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/fortunato-jr-de-la-pena-4613b041/?originalSubdomain=ph Tito de la Pena, currently a professor in the University of the Philippines College of Fine Art, Industrial Design Department, one of the officers of Design Center Philippines and one of the organizers of HEED (Humanitarian Engineering Entrepreneurship and Design) https://cargocollective.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/fortunato-jr-de-la-pena-4613b041/?originalSubdomain=ph
John Lee is the GM of Klio Food Keepers and he will support the production of the Vaxi carrier. John Lee is the GM of Klio Food Keepers and he will support the production of the Vaxi carrier.
http://www.kliofoodkeepers.com/about-us/ For the production of my final prototype, I am partnering with Klio Food Keepers. http://www.kliofoodkeepers.com/about-us/ For the production of my final prototype, I am partnering with Klio Food Keepers.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-truman-tan-bbb65351?originalSubdomain=ph https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-truman-tan-bbb65351?originalSubdomain=ph
Louie L. Villaverde, Master of Engineering, BS Mechatronics. Head, LIKHA FabLab. https://www.linkedin.com/in/louie-villaverde-39235aa9/ Louie L. Villaverde, Master of Engineering, BS Mechatronics. Head, LIKHA FabLab. https://www.linkedin.com/in/louie-villaverde-39235aa9/
Dr. Mike Marasigan is an active voice in the medical community and very active in immunization campaigns. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-marasigan-22141ab?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BfrANhAceQoS62IiHsUiCYA%3D%3D Dr. Mike Marasigan is an active voice in the medical community and very active in immunization campaigns. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-marasigan-22141ab?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BfrANhAceQoS62IiHsUiCYA%3D%3D
Louie L. Villaverde, Master of Engineering, BS Mechatronics. Head, LIKHA FabLab he and I will collaborate together with the engineers who are involved with the fab lab to create the working prototype of Vaxi. Dr. Mike Marasigan is an active voice in the medical community and very active in immunization campaigns. He can sound advice in tackling the product usage and testing once the prototype is ready. He can guide us on how to assess the product's efficiency and usage. He will collaborate with us further on testing our carrier. Tito de la Pena, currently a professor in the UP College of Fine Art, Industrial Design Department, one of the officers of Design Center Philippines and HEED is my guide in this design project from day one. He will continue to support me actively in this endeavor. John C, Lee will open his R and D space to make my working prototype. John Tan will do all my vacuum former requirements. I have a staff of 3 working on this project in the Art Gym.

Overview of How Your Concept Has Evolved (5-6 sentences):

The evolution if the Vaxi system idea powered by IDEO. The evolution if the Vaxi system idea powered by IDEO.
This is the Vaxi App wire frame. I made this app as an add on idea so that the data logger may be utilized to keep track of the temperature and have it on display in case the caregiver would like to check if their vaccines were handled well. The real time temperature reading will show up with the selfie picture after vaccination. This is the Vaxi App wire frame. I made this app as an add on idea so that the data logger may be utilized to keep track of the temperature and have it on display in case the caregiver would like to check if their vaccines were handled well. The real time temperature reading will show up with the selfie picture after vaccination.
Through the feedback gathered, I was able to adjust my prototype and concept. Seeing my business model in one canvas page gave me a clear perspective of what I have right now and the new prospects of the product. Kai Cowger is inspiring with his paperless feedback gathering. Over all, I have a stronger hold of my vision for Vaxi as a product with a good business potential.The recent feedback from the prototype webinar was positive. They gave me high ratings in its usability. I made several changes focusing on how it can empower caregivers and as a result is I added the data logger, app and selfie ideas. My prototyping support ,Ms. Giordano gave me some links for a solar powered charging product which I can use for the cooling system.

Viability (3-4 sentences and activity upload):

https://canvanizer.com/canvas/wlgL42xDcreyf

Feasibility (3-4 sentences):

I have attached the survey results done among health care workers. I have shared my work in the Linked in community of health workers and got some very good comments so far. After getting feedback from the IDEO team, I focused more on the aspect of the vaccine carrier that would make the caregiver trust the vaccines that are being given to their child. Isaac Jumba worried a bout the possible misuse of Vaxi so I will make a warning mark on the outside. Kathryn Giordano gave me some links to a foldable solar battery pack for my cooling system.

Desirability (3-4 sentences and activity upload):

A POST FOR A POST. The Philippines is suffering the scourge of vaccine doubts propelled by scary social media posts, gullible young first time mothers with no previous experience in vaccination easily believe whatever they read. It is time to counter this with a high impact, reality based post about a new Vaxi carrier that keeps the vaccine safe, monitors and logs temperature readings. It can be checked by caregivers through an app on the health workers' mobile phone as a proof of safety. The health worker talks more about it. They may then take a selfie and make a positive post on social media about her experience that can be seen by her friends, counteracting the negative information also circulating around the same platforms.

Community Focus (2-3 sentences):

The the latest vaccine controversy caused vaccine scare and doubt in the minds of the caregiver. Deaths from the recent outbreak may not be directly related to the scare but any kind of doubt can tear down the trust on immunization that took so long to establish. A repackaged reliable vaccine delivery can be the answer. The caregiver now has the power to know.

Community Impact (2-3 sentences):

Vaccination Session Site Vaccination Session Site
The target community will now be assured of potent vaccines at all times. The circle of trust between the caregivers, health workers, pharmaceuticals and implementing government agencies will be stronger. Within one year, a higher number of satisfied and trusting caregivers can be measured through a feedback system. The 95% vaccination rate may be hit and herd immunity can be achieved. It can be sustained as it can be funded by other stakeholders who shall reap the benefits of a well functioning and reliable vaccine delivery system. The government hopefully can sponsor the new system.

Inspired by (1)

Ensuring access to safe supply of temperature sensitive vaccine even in regions with unstable or non existing electrical provision.
Ensuring access to safe supply of temperature sensitive vaccine even in regions with unstable or non existing electrical provision.

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