The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is developing a generative artificial intelligence tool to analyze data within the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and generate hypotheses on potential vaccine side effects. The tool, currently under development since late 2023, aims to identify patterns in vaccine injury reports.
VAERS, established in 1990, serves as a platform for reporting adverse reactions following vaccination, but its data alone cannot definitively attribute adverse events to vaccines. This AI tool’s development raises important questions about the intersection of technology and public health policy, highlighting the potential implications of AI in shaping vaccination policies and public perceptions of vaccine safety.
Concerns have been raised by experts that the AI predictions from this tool could be misused to support anti-vaccine stances. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made controversial decisions during his tenure, including altering the childhood vaccination schedule by removing several recommended immunizations.
Source: WIRED