Vaccination strategies for SIR vector-transmitted diseases

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Mathematical Biology
• Public Health

Background:

• Vector-borne diseases pose a significant global health challenge with rapid spread.
• Current vector control methods yield suboptimal results, necessitating alternative strategies.
• Vaccination is crucial for disease incidence reduction, but requires defined strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and analyze an age-structured SIR model for vector-transmitted diseases with vaccination.
• To determine the age-dependent basic reproductive number, R(0).
• To evaluate the impact of vaccination strategies on disease dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Development of a compartmental SIR model for vector-borne diseases.
• Inclusion of an age-structured population and a vaccination program.
• Analysis of equilibrium points and their stability based on R(0).

Main Results:

• An expression for the age-dependent basic reproductive number, R(0), was derived.
• The disease-free equilibrium is locally stable when R(0) ≤ 1.
• A unique endemic equilibrium exists when R(0) > 1.

Conclusions:

• The model provides a framework for understanding disease spread in vaccinated populations.
• Theoretical results were applied to dengue data to assess vaccination strategies.
• Optimal immunization levels and ages for vaccination were evaluated.