Frontiers in Public Health (May 2025)
TWINVAX: conceptual model of a digital twin for immunisation services in primary health care
Abstract
IntroductionThis paper presents a proposal for the modelling and reference architecture of a digital twin for immunisation services in primary health care centres. The system leverages Industry 4.0 concepts and technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, and cloud computing, to improve vaccination management and monitoring.MethodsThe modelling was conducted using the Unified Modelling Language (UML) to define workflows and processes such as temperature monitoring of storage equipment and tracking of vaccination status. The proposed reference architecture follows the ISO 23247 standard and is structured into four domains: observable elements/entities, data collection and device control, digital twin platform, and user domain.ResultsThe system enables the storage, monitoring, and visualisation of data related to the immunisation room, specifically concerning the temperature control of ice-lined refrigerators (ILRs) and thermal boxes. An analytic module has been developed to monitor vaccination coverage, correlating individual vaccination statuses with the official vaccination calendar.DiscussionThe proposed digital twin improves vaccine temperature management, reduces vaccine dose wastage, monitors the population’s vaccination status, and supports the planning of more effective immunisation actions. The article also discusses the feasibility, potential benefits, and future impacts of deploying this technology within immunisation services.
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