ESTIMATING AGE-SPECIFIC HAZARD RATES OF INFECTION FROM CROSS-SECTIONAL OBSERVATIONS

Mathematical models of pathogen transmission in age-structured host populations, can be used to design or evaluate vaccination programs. For reliable results, their forces or hazard rates of infection (FOI) must be formulated correctly and the requisite contact rates and probabilities of infection on contact estimated from suitable observations. Elsewhere, we have described methods for calculating the probabilities of infection on contact from the contact rates and FOI. Here, we present methods for estimating the FOI from cross-sectional serological surveys or disease surveillance in populations with or without concurrent vaccination. We consider both continuous and discrete age, and present estimates of the FOI for vaccine-preventable diseases that confer temporary or permanent immunity.