LEBANON – The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, in partnership with UNICEF and the European Union, has launched “Sohatona,” the first smartphone-based digital vaccination platform designed to help parents and caregivers monitor their children’s immunization according to the national vaccination schedule.

The app allows users to access reliable information on routine vaccines, as well as receive reminders for upcoming appointments, helping ensure regular adherence to vaccination schedules and protecting children from preventable diseases.

The launch comes amid a significant decline in vaccination rates in Lebanon in recent years. Routine immunization uptake dropped by 31% between October 2019 and April 2020 compared to the same period the previous year, leading to missed life-saving vaccines for many children and increasing the risk of outbreaks of diseases such as measles and polio.

“Sohatona” was developed and implemented by the National Immunization Program at the Ministry of Public Health. It targets children from birth to 18 years old and provides parents with simple digital tools to monitor their children’s health and strengthen disease prevention.

The app is free of charge, available in Arabic on all types of smartphones, and does not collect any personal user data. Its content has been reviewed by experts from UNICEF and the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Authorities are encouraging parents and caregivers to download the app and use it to keep track of vaccination appointments at nearby public health facilities across the country.