AI in Vaccinology: Balancing technology, trust, and equity

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the life sciences industry. From protein structure prediction to automated clinical documentation, AI systems are beginning to influence nearly every stage of biomedical innovation. Yet one of the most consequential applications may emerge in a field that receives far less technological attention: vaccinology. Vaccines remain among the most powerful public health interventions ever developed. They have eradicated diseases, prevented millions of deaths, and shaped the trajectory of global health for more than a century. At the same time, vaccine development and deployment remain complex, slow, and deeply dependent on fragmented global systems. Artificial intelligence has the potential to change this equation. AI systems can accelerate antigen discovery and optimization, model immune responses, improve clinical trial design, monitor vaccine safety signals, and integrate epidemiological surveillance with immunization strategies. In doing so, AI could transform vaccinology from a largely linear development process into a dynamic, data-driven learning system. ...