The goal of the project is to create clinical decision support software for immunizations based on the CDSi Logic Spec developed by the Centers for Disease Control.

Why OpenCdsi?

CDSi software is part of an immunization information system (IIS) which itself can be part of an electron health records (EHR) system. It’s purpose is to evaluate a patients immunization histroy and then forecast the next vaccine doses required for a patient to achieve immunity to the covered antigens.

There are many IIS implementations in operation at state government agencies, hospitals, and clinics. The implementations tend to be proprietary products that are licenseable for a fee or, in some cases, free of charge. OpenCdsi is an attempt to make an open-source, easily updated, and portable immunization decision support system.

What About WorldVax?

Way back in 2013 my friend, Jeffery Miller, and I started worldvax.org as an open-source humanitarian project to bring modern immunization tracking technology to underserved communities. We gave a presentation at the 2013 National Meeting of the AIRA, did a podcast and had a simple demo app but we never really got the traction we needed to make WorldVax take off.

Ultimately, I think our message was muddled. We had a really big, really important vision but the nuts-and-bolts of our vision lay hidden in the talks and podcast.

OpenCdsi is the nuts-and-bolts of the WorldVax vision. This is the technology that will let us Reach The Rest. To help achieve that goal, the OpenCdsi project was created on June 20th, 2022 when the domain name opencdsi.org was registered.

What about ICE?

This is the real-world implementation of the CDC Logic Spec. HLN Consulting has been in the healthcare field for nearly 30 years. The Immunization Calculation Engine is the reference implementation of the Logic Spec and HLN works closely with the CDC in making immunization forecasting accessable and affordable for developers of immunization information systems and electronic health record systems.

OpenCdsi isn’t competing with ICE but we are taking inspiration from that project. Perhaps we’ll come across something that they don’t do and that will provide a niche for us.