Optimal Allocation of the Limited COVID-19 Vaccine Supply in South Korea.

ABSTRACT: Initial supply of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine may be limited, necessitating its effective use. Herein, an age-structured model of COVID-19 spread in South Korea is parameterized to understand the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19. The model determines optimal vaccine allocation for minimizing infections, deaths, and years of life lost while accounting for population factors, such as country-specific age distribution and contact structure, and various levels of vaccine efficacy. A transmission-blocking vaccine should be prioritized in adults aged 20-49 years and those older than 50 years to minimize the cumulative incidence and mortality, respectively. A strategy to minimize years of life lost involves the vaccination of adults aged 40-69 years, reflecting the relat

SUBMITTER: Shim E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7914460 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature