5 Ways Modern Technology Helps Fight Pandemics

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the healthcare industry worldwide and pushed the limits of our public health systems. Modern technology was essential to the fight against the pandemic and undoubtedly helped save millions of lives during the outbreak. Here are some vital functions modern technology plays in the battle against COVID-19 and how it can help us prepare for future pandemics.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is an essential tool in the fight against diseases. When COVID-19 began worldwide, researchers and policymakers depended on AI technology to predict the spread of the disease and help track infected populations. This information is vital when designing temporary public policy measures to protect citizens and minimize the spread of the disease.

AI could not only monitor and predict the spread of disease, but it was also helpful in temperature checking large crowds of people. Grocery stores worldwide used AI to automatically temperature check guests entering the building and alert staff members if an individual was potentially infected. Once the mask mandates were in place, AI could even be used for facial recognition to identify infected individuals regardless of their face masks. These capabilities are essential to understand these diseases better and how they move throughout populations.

Telehealth

Telehealth became an essential tool for healthcare during the pandemic and is a widely popular option for man patients today. With telehealth, appointments can happen online over video chat, so patients don’t go into the office and risk spreading disease. Telehealth is particularly popular for those suffering from chronic conditions that require regular doctor visits but can still be conducted online, such as therapy appointments. Most health insurances now widely offer telehealth options that can benefit many patients worldwide.

Telehealth can also help reduce the time that health care professionals must spend traveling to provide medical care and the time patients take to reach their doctors. This can be especially helpful in rural areas or developing countries where it may be difficult or impossible to access a doctor quickly. This is also beneficial for patients in regions far away from certain medical specialists who provide specific care.

mRNA Vaccine Technology

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a type of DNA strand that carries the blueprints used to produce other proteins throughout the body. mRNA can be engineered to carry specific proteins that help create antibodies to fight disease. Not only is mRNA technology a relatively newer form of vaccine creation, but it’s been shown to be a more effective form of vaccine than traditional attenuated vaccines.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers worldwide raced to develop vaccines to fight the spread of the disease. These biopharma labs depended on large-scale medical manufacturers such as Avantor to help them create “breakthrough treatments for many of the world’s most challenging diseases and chronic conditions,” including COVID-19. When it came to developing mRNA vaccines, artificial intelligence was an essential tool for quickly sorting and searching through strands of DNA and assisting with all stages of research and development. Usually, it may take years to develop effective vaccines. Still, today with the help of these technologies, researchers were able to create several successful COVID vaccines within a year of the pandemic.

Modern Research Centers

Research centers are one of the best ways to fight pandemics. These facilities have some of the world’s most advanced equipment, facilities, and scientists. They have access to vast data and research that allows them to predict how diseases will spread, where they might strike next and how we can stop them before they do more damage. At these laboratories, complex medical testing and manufacturing take place to ensure that the vaccines and treatments that are being developed will be effective and accessible to citizens.

Modern research centers can quickly sort through and apply large quantities of data from patients, populations, the internet, clinical trials, tests, etc. These research centers are essential for developing and manufacturing drugs and vaccines that help fight diseases during pandemics and in everyday life.

Social Networks

Social networks are a way to share information and stay in touch with friends, family, and coworkers. But they can also help fight pandemics in other ways:

• Research: Researchers can use social media to collect data on the spread of disease by tracking posts about illness symptoms or treatments. This gives them more accurate information about where the disease is spreading, which has helped contain outbreaks in some cases.
• Communication: Social media tools like Twitter let people talk directly with each other about pandemics as well as local responses to them (like evacuation orders or places where vaccines are being distributed). These conversations can speed up the spread of information—and ensure everyone stays informed at once instead of having news spread slowly from person to person in face-to-face communication channels.

While social media can be an excellent tool for staying informed and communicating with friends and family, it can also be dangerous when spreading misinformation. Particularly during the pandemic, the spread of misinformation can be dangerous. Be sure to only get your information from trusted sources like the CDC regarding public health and safety.

With the help of modern technology, our healthcare industry is more robust against the spread of disease. Artificial intelligence can help us predict and prepare for the spread of disease, while modern research laboratories can develop effective treatments and vaccines quicker than ever before. As healthcare technology continues to improve, we will undoubtedly continue to see ways that it can help us fight future pandemics.