COVID-19 vaccine distribution: exploring strategic alternatives for the greater good

The dire state of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis symbolized the urgency for efficient distribution and administration of vaccines to combat the virus as the most urgent public health service. This paper presents a prototype multi-criteria decision support model based on goal programming that can effectively support vaccination plans for the greater good of society. The optimization goals of the model include minimizing the number of fatalities and risk of spreading the disease, while complying with government health agency’s priority guidelines for vaccination. This study applied the model to a real-world dataset to demonstrate how it can be effectively applied as a decision support tool for vaccine distribution plans and manage future pandemics. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Cloud Computing-based Higher Education Platforms during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cloud computing has become the infrastructure that supports people's daily activities, business operations, and education delivery around the world. Cloud computing-based education platforms have been widely applied to assist online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper examines the impact and importance of cloud computing in remote learning and education. This study conducted multiple-case analyses of 22 online platforms of higher education in Chinese universities during the epidemic. A comparative analysis of the 22 platforms revealed that they applied different cloud computing models and tools based on their unique requirements and needs. The study results provide strategic insights to higher education institutions regarding effective approaches to applying cloud computing-based platforms for remote education, especially during crisis situations. © 2022 ACM.