Enhancement of collective immunity in Tokyo metropolitan area by selective vaccination against an emerging influenza pandemic.

ABSTRACT: Vaccination is a preventive measure against influenza that does not require placing restrictions on social activities. However, since the stockpile of vaccine that can be prepared before the arrival of an emerging pandemic strain is generally quite limited, one has to select priority target groups to which the first stockpile is distributed. In this paper, we study a simulation-based priority target selection method with the goal of enhancing the collective immunity of the whole population. To model the region in which the disease spreads, we consider an urban area composed of suburbs and central areas connected by a single commuter train line. Human activity is modelled following an agent-based approach. The degree to which collective immunity is enhanced is judged by the attack rate in u

SUBMITTER: Saito MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3776821 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature