Artificial Intelligence & Vaccine Development: What does this mean for the nurse educator?

Ayoka Allen

NURS 7712

Kennesaw State University – WellStar School of Nursing

 Much talk surrounds Artificial Intelligence (AI); what exactly is it? AI simulates human

intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems (Laskowski & Tucci, 2024). In

1950, AI was discovered, but due to limitations back in the day, this technology could not fully

develop until the 2000s (Kaul et al., 2020). The funding for AI slowed down in 1970; the

government did not see the need to allocate funds for research on this advancement. However, in

the 1990s, when the increased use of computers started, it sparked the topic of AI back up, with

the development of IBM creating a computer program to beat a world chess champion

(Laskowski & Tucci, 2024). Currently, AI is a part of almost everything, including medical

practice. From having a computer on the wrist to having robots perform surgeries, what will AI

look like for the future of nursing, specifically vaccine development, and the controversies

surrounding vaccine administration?

Let us look at the COVID-19 Vaccine, a mRNA vaccine created in a lab that would

trigger an immune response inside our bodies (CDC, 2024). When a virus like this comes out,

something new that has never been experienced, the first thing people would want to do is come

up with a way to save as many lives as possible without causing more harm than good. The

success rate of conventional treatments could be much higher. On top of that, it can take up to

10-15 years for proper development; this is time we still need to have. What happens when

millions of people continue to die, and there is pressure put on big pharmaceutical companies to

come up with something fast? This is where technology, specifically AI, weighs heavily in

creating the vaccine. AI assistance enhances vaccine design by providing a deeper understanding

of the pathogen infection cycle across genetic, molecular, and cellular levels (Kaushik et al.,

2023). It is almost impossible not to include AI in medicine to help improve nursing quality
significantly. The challenge comes with how patients can trust the clinical benefits that AI can

present, where their care will be more accurate, up-to-date, efficient, and economical. Currently,

AI technology has excellent potential to enhance nursing skills, but there can also be unintended

consequences that can negatively impact the nursing profession (Pailaha, 2023). The COVID-19

virus affected everyone who could live through this pandemic; the controversy behind the

development of the vaccine was even more significant than the virus itself.

Viruses have been around for a long time to challenge the health of humans. Humans have

been able to overcome the ultimate death because of advances in recognizing the microbiology

of this disease and then eventually fighting them with vaccine development. AI has been

extensively used for drug and vaccine research against SARS-COV-2 therapy discovery (Sharma

et al., 2022). It is more helpful in identifying potential existing drugs with inhibitory human

viruses; in addition, it helps speed up the process of the actual development of the vaccine. In

order to make a vaccine, scientists have to study thousands of components of structures to find

the best one that will induce the best immunological response. The AI can even identify the

longevity of the vaccine and which component may mutate or become weaker as time goes on.

In addition, the computer would be able to keep track of any changes in the vaccine's genetic

alteration as time goes on. However, with all these significant advancements, how does this

affect nursing, more specifically, the education of patients and students?

The idea is the same as if a nurse were educating the patients on any other vaccine

administration. The nurse educator should apply the following steps in health coaching

techniques to the stages of vaccine readiness and action framework (Harris et al., 2022). The

nurse would start by acknowledging the patient's vaccine skepticism. This is when the patient
listens to the controversy surrounding vaccines and has a reservation about receiving the vaccine.

The nurse should continue with open-ended questions and express gratitude for the patient's

opening up. Ask the patient why they might believe they want or do not want to receive the

vaccine, then respond accordingly with up-to-date, accurate information. After addressing the

patient's skepticism, the nurse should open the floor for the patient to ask any questions

regarding the vaccine. Address the concern of side effects, then discuss any barriers the patient

may face regarding follow-up appointments, transportation, or any lingering questions.

Regarding vaccine curiosity, patients mainly want to know if the vaccine is safe and

effective. With the rise of AI use, we as nurse educators must continue to ensure that our patients

have accurate and relevant information about what they put in their bodies. We should educate

our patients that the contributions of AI make vaccine development safer and that AI methods

can deliver reliable antigen identification in a time-efficient manner and have improved accuracy

(Kaushik et al., 2023). Because of the recent advances in AI, scientists could safely fast-track the

development of the COVID-19 vaccine, now entering a new era where government funding fully

supports technology in medicine. With all the good, AI has some negative drawbacks that must

be addressed, especially if questions arise from educating patients.

One issue with AI in medicine is that it is not human but programmed by

humans. This means that AI can have system malfunctions or lack human emotions and create

biases, which could make results less accurate (Pailaha, 2023). AI works as a broad system,

always running numbers in the programming; the technology algorithm could create biases and

categorize results by gender and race, which could cause disparities and inaccurate results for

specific groups. Another issue is that AI runs its programming. Therefore, the algorithm that it
uses can sometimes prioritize less sick white patients versus sicker black patients in the United

States (Pailaha, 2023). AI remains a work in progress; although humans made the software and

are actively trying to improve it, it continues to run independently. This uncertainty causes

problems within the AI algorithms, leaving scientists questioning the validity and reliability of its

results, which can eventually affect the standard of care (Pailaha., 2023). The nurse educator can

explore ways to help bridge the knowledge deficit within the community, making everyday

people more aware of AI use in medicine and less fearful.

As nurse educators, there are several ways to educate the community, starting with the use

of websites and online resources. AI is technology, so why not start by highlighting what we are

advocating for and showing people, especially our older population, that the increased use of

technology is not always a bad thing. By creating accessible online resources, the patient would

also be able to learn at their own pace and able to share with others easily. In addition to online

resources, hosting in-person Q&A sessions and panels in the community would allow people to

feel more comfortable. Patients could learn directly from the professionals who represent the

vaccine companies using AI. This will allow patients to ask their questions upfront and gain a

deeper understanding of the topic regarding their public health and safety.

Lastly, nurses should continue to do what they do best: advocate for their patients. As

nurse educators, partnering with patient advocacy groups will help tailor the education to specific

patient populations. This will ensure that the materials being taught are relevant and accessible to

diverse groups of patients. The nurse educator should also continue to provide educational

updates as AI progresses and advances with vaccine development. This will keep patients
informed about the latest research and breakthroughs, which can promote trust and confidence in

the process.

Where does this leave the greater community on the use of technology in creating

vaccines? Although research is minimal, it is believed more significant population would trust

medicine more than ever with AI. While the world is still suffering the effects of the recent

pandemic, AI stepped in to expedite vaccine development by providing insights into the

pathogen's genetic, molecular, and cellular aspects. This vaccine development, so quickly and

successfully without significant health concerns, is the best medical advancement. However,

where does that leave the nurse educator?

Nurses are on the front lines, whether taking care of patients or administering what is

needed to help them. Educating patients on AI's role in vaccine development is crucial to

building trust and understanding of this emerging technology. Patient education should start by

addressing those concerns and acknowledging skepticism through an open dialogue. Nurses

should ensure patients have accurate vaccine safety and effectiveness information, emphasizing

AI's contributions to safer and more efficient vaccine development.

In conclusion, Artificial intelligence has become integral to various aspects of healthcare,

including vaccine development. Despite its promising contributions to advancing medicine, there

are many controversies surrounding its implementation, especially patient education. To educate

patients effectively, nurse educators can apply tailored strategies and community engagement to

build trust surrounding this complicated, new topic. By promoting transparency, addressing

concerns, and advocating for patient education, nurses can help build trust and confidence in AI-

driven healthcare advancements among different patient populations.

 References

CDC. (2024, January 12). Overview of COVID-19 Vaccines. Retrieved from Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-

vaccines/overview-COVID-19-vaccines.html#:~:text=Pfizer%2DBioNTech%20and

%20Moderna%20COVID,immune%20response%20inside%20our%20bodies

Harris, O., Taylor, K., Maher, A., & Willard-Grace, R. (2022). Health Coaching Across The

Stages of Vaccine Readiness and Action: A practical Guide fo Public Health Nurses.

American Journal of Public Health, s245-s249.

Kaul, V., Enslin, S., & Gross, S. (2020, October). History of artificial intelligence in medicine.

ScienceDirect, 92(4), 807-812. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2020.06.040

Kaushik, R., Kant, R., & Christodoulides, M. (2023, October 09). Artificial intelligence in

accelerating vaccine development - current and future perspectives. Frontiers, 2.

doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fbrio.2023.1258159

Laskowski, N., & Tucci, L. (2024, April). What is artificial intelligence (AI)? Everything you

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https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/definition/AI-Artificial-

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%20vision
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