Impact of Vaccination Policies for COVID-19 Using Hybrid Simulation

ABSTRACT

A stochastic model for individual immune response is developed. This model is then incorporated in a larger simulation model for the spread of COVID-19 in a population. The simulator allows random transitions between being susceptible, exposed, having mild or severe symptoms, as well as random non-exponential sojourn times in those states. The model is more efficient than others based on geographical location, where the virus spreads according to actual distance between individuals. We are able to simulate much larger populations and vary parameters such as time between vaccinations, probability of infection, and so on. We present an application to study the effects on healthcare as a function of vaccination policies. © 2022 IEEE.