Incorporating economic constraints for optimal control of immunizing infections

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Mathematical Modeling
• Public Health Economics

Background:

• Disease transmission can be interrupted by achieving a vaccination threshold.
• Vaccination strategies must consider economic constraints for practical implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optimal vaccination strategy under economic constraints.
• To minimize the total cost, including vaccination and infection costs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an S--(I,V)--S compartmental model for disease spread in a well-mixed population.
• Developed a cost function incorporating vaccination and infection expenses.
• Analyzed model parameters to characterize optimal vaccination levels.

Main Results:

• An optimal vaccination strategy was identified to minimize costs across all parameters.
• The optimal vaccination level is influenced by vaccine failure rate, efficacy, and other factors.
• Specific strategies range from disease elimination to no vaccination based on vaccine failure rate.

Conclusions:

• The optimal vaccination strategy is contingent upon the vaccine's failure rate and economic considerations.
• Mathematical modeling provides a framework for cost-effective public health interventions.
• The study offers insights applicable to real-world scenarios, including the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan.