As a return to normalcy following the COVID-19 pandemic begins to appear over the horizon, one of the greatest challenges in accomplishing true “post-pandemic” status is the effective distribution of vaccines across not only the U.S. but the world at large. This dissemination of vaccines is undoubtedly one of the most monumental logistical undertakings in the modern era; however, luckily, artificial intelligence technologies, which can use historical and real time data to learn and adapt to information patterns, have proven indispensable in the efforts to end the pandemic.

One of the greatest concerns harbored by doctors worldwide is the rise of virus variants, which have the potential to undermine all previous vaccine efforts. In this regard, artificial intelligence has become extremely useful in aiding scientists and doctors alike in changing the way therapeutics are being developed and deployed. According to Matthew Putman, an expert on artificial intelligence and CEO of Nanotronics, only artificial intelligence can keep up with the deluge of information and multivariate correlations associated with vaccine development and distribution in such an urgent manner.

Furthermore, not only is AI essential for monitoring variants, but it is also necessary for adjusting the supply chain and easing global distribution efforts. Current inefficiencies in supply chain management are simply incompatible with the need for urgency and reliability that comes with COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Therefore, AI has been able to ensure consistency, speed, and adaptability both domestically and abroad. This January, IBM, one of Praescient Analytics’ partners,  began using its Watson Health Analytics to compare zip-code-level data on demographics and health status with information on people’s attitude regarding the vaccine in order to ensure vaccines are distributed equitably. While AI could never completely overhaul our current medical system, it has proven instrumental in easing the strain on our healthcare workers, reducing logistical bottlenecks, and keeping our hospitals and clinics working efficiently.

Here at Praescient, we’ve emphasized the necessity of a flexible approach to research, interpretation, and prediction in order to inform real-time policy decisions and refine public health guidelines for adequate re-opening. Furthermore, our experience in the healthcare sector means we understand  the necessity for effective and efficient data analysis in order to support our nation’s healthcare system as much as possible. The field of artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, and this opportunity for an artificial-intelligence-based solution to one of humanity’s greatest health crises demonstrates the sheer potential of such a technology. We continually say (sometimes ad nauseum) that data saves lives, and here, it truly can.