Vaccine Effects on Susceptibility and Symptomatology Can Change the Optimal Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccines: South Korea as an Example.

ABSTRACT: The approved coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines reduce the risk of disease by 70-95%; however, their efficacy in preventing COVID-19 is unclear. Moreover, the limited vaccine supply raises questions on how they can be used effectively. To examine the optimal allocation of COVID-19 vaccines in South Korea, we constructed an age-structured mathematical model, calibrated using country-specific demographic and epidemiological data. The optimal control problem was formulated with the aim of finding time-dependent age-specific optimal vaccination strategies to minimize costs related to COVID-19 infections and vaccination, considering a limited vaccine supply and various vaccine effects on susceptibility and symptomatology. Our results suggest that "susceptibility-reducing" vaccines should b

SUBMITTER: Choi W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8268243 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature