Fairness versus Efficiency of Vaccine Allocation Strategies

Abstract Objectives To develop a framework to objectively measure the degree of fairness of any allocation rule aimed at distributing a limited stockpile of vaccines to contain the spread of influenza. Methods The trade-off between the efficiency and fairness of allocation strategies was demonstrate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Value in health 2015-03, Vol.18 (2), p.278-283
Main Authors: Yi, Ming, PhD, Marathe, Achla, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Factors
allocation strategies
efficiency
Epidemics - prevention & control
fairness trade-off
Family Characteristics
Health Care Rationing - methods
Humans
Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage
Influenza, Human - epidemiology
Influenza, Human - prevention & control
Internal Medicine
limited vaccines
Resource Allocation - methods
simulation
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Summary:Abstract Objectives To develop a framework to objectively measure the degree of fairness of any allocation rule aimed at distributing a limited stockpile of vaccines to contain the spread of influenza. Methods The trade-off between the efficiency and fairness of allocation strategies was demonstrated through an illustrative simulation study of an influenza epidemic in Southwestern Virginia. A Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered model was used to represent the disease progression within the host. Results Our findings showed that among all the criteria considered here, the household size (largest first) combined with age (youngest first)-based strategy leads to the best outcome. At 80% fairness, highest efficiency can be achieved but in order to be 100% fair, disease prevalence will have to rise by approximately 1.5%. Conclusions This research provides a framework to objectively determine the degree of fairness of vaccine allocation strategies.
ISSN:1098-3015
1524-4733
DOI:10.1016/j.jval.2014.11.009