NHS QCovid algorithm incorrectly labels young patients as high risk, causing vaccine call-up
The article reports that scientists are questioning the reliability of the QCovid risk prediction algorithm used by the NHS to prioritise COVID-19 vaccinations. Due to missing data on weight or ethnicity, the algorithm automatically assigns a high BMI and high-risk ethnicity, leading to young, healthy patients being incorrectly labelled as high risk and called for early vaccination. GPs have identified hundreds of such cases, causing anxiety and potentially delaying vaccinations for more vulnerable individuals. NHS Digital acknowledged the issue and said clinicians can remove patients from the shielding list.
- Date it happened
- 2021-02-01
- Organisation involved
- NHS
- Product, system or model
- QCovid
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