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Anticipation of a covid-19 vaccine is growing. The National Academy of Medicine issued the report “Framework for Equitable Allocation of Covid-19 Vaccine,” offering guidance on vaccine allocation. The process is certain to be fraught with politics, given that equitable, safe and effective all represent critical, albeit subjective criteria to assess the vaccine allocation process and meet the requirements of the vaccine supply chain.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have warned about the horrors of the 1918 flu. After the first dangerous wave of infections that spring, cities and people relaxed their efforts to contain the virus and it came roaring back in the fall and winter, killing far more people. So far, COVID-19 hasn't behaved the same way. There was no summer break, and we're not seeing the ebb and flow that characterized the 1918 outbreak. It's been more like a forest fire spiking in one area while dying down in another. 

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, along with state and local health departments, coordinates this process. These agencies distributed flu vaccines during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic this way, and they manage childhood vaccines every day. However, the COVID-19 vaccine will be a whole new challenge.

“The proper application of AI can create less operational risk and afford a safer environment. Continuous strengthening of the predictive algorithms associated with AI can deliver endless value toward eliminating variability, thus creating more productive capacity. Smarter railroading in the years ahead can be achieved by advancing use of AI technology,” says Federal Railroad Administrator Ron Batory.

Dr. Adedeji Badiru, dean of the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management, will receive the second annual Taylor & Francis Lifetime Achievement Award during a virtual ceremony Oct. 30. This award is in honor of Badiru’s significant and pioneering contributions in the field of industrial and systems engineering and for his extensive publication record, including books, book chapters and also serving as the series editor or co-series editor of the “Systems Innovation Book Series,” the “Environmental and Occupational Health Series” and the “Analytics and Control Series.”