Google Takes Flu Trends One Step Futher With Vaccine-Finding Map

Written by Jolie O'Dell / November 10, 2009 3:30 PM / 4 Comments

Last month, we told you about Google's Flu Trends' expansion to 20 countries around the world. The program monitors mentions of flu symptoms to predict - and hopefulyl help prevent - flu outbreaks.

Today, Google has announced a new feature of Maps that will allow users to find flu vaccines near them. In partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Lung Associaltion, and Flu.gov, Google Maps is now helping users search for seasonal flu vaccination locations, H1N1 flu shots, or both together.

Project managers Roni Zeiger, M.D., and Jennifer Haroon wrote on the official Google blog, "Especially given slower than expected vaccine production, we think it's important to bring together flu shot information in a coherent manner. We've been working with HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local health agencies to gather information on flu vaccine locations across the country, particularly for the H1N1 flu vaccine (both the nasal-spray vaccine and the shot)."

Now, Google has gathered information about locations of flu vaccine shots from 20 states in the U.S. Google is also collecting information from chain pharmacies and other vaccine providers in all 50 states. Currently, users can find vaccine shots available from retail chains such as Walgreen's, CVS, Kmart, and WinnDixie.

The application gives vaccine location hours, when available, and even lets users know when vaccine supplies have run out at a particular location. All in all, it's a useful tool for quickly and simply finding the nearest place to get a flu shot.

For more information on how Flu Trends works, check out this video from Google.org:

Comments

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I wish Google or someone (maybe the CDC already has it) would do a heat map (or other) showing reported/recorded flu cases vs. vaccinations somehow with population density/levels mixed in.

It'd be very interesting to see if the vaccine is actually working. I don't doubt that it is, but a little independent corroboration would be good and might be more convincing than the proverbial "they say getting a flu shot is good for you". Some folks are more easily convinced by the numbers.

Where's Steven Levitt when you need him?

BB

Posted by: byron | November 10, 2009 6:40 PM

My three year old son is an asthmatic and we've been very, very, VERY worried about this. A normal cold will take him down for a week at home. Flu puts him in the hospital. Not being able to get the GOD-DAMNED-FUCKIN VACINE has me 23 different flavors of livid.

There is no pain like seeing your child sick. Knowing that there is an epidemic that could easily kill him is quite literally keeping me from sleeping some nights.

SUPPOSEDLY, it will be available to him this Friday and I can let him out to play with his friends again

Posted by: jeu | November 10, 2009 10:03 PM

@jeu: In the United States during 2005, 1,335 children ages 14 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes, and approximately 184,000 were injured.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/childpas.htm

How common are car accidents, injuries, and fatalities?
• Every year, there are more than 6 million automobile accidents on US roads.
• More than 40,000 people die in car accidents in the United States every year.

http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx

Do you drive?

Posted by: islandinthenet.com | November 11, 2009 2:45 PM