Article

Journal of Mathematical Biology

, Volume 53, Issue 2, pp 253-272

First online:

A Susceptible-infected Epidemic Model with Voluntary Vaccinations

  • Frederick H. ChenAffiliated withDepartment of Economics, Wake Forest University Email author 

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Abstract

An susceptible-infected epidemic model with endogenous behavioral changes is presented to analyze the impact of a prophylactic vaccine on disease prevalence. It is shown that, with voluntary vaccination, whether an endemic equilibrium exists or not does not depend on vaccine efficacy or the distribution of agent-types. Although an endemic equilibrium is unique in the absence of a vaccine, the availability of a vaccine can lead to multiple endemic equilibria that differ in disease prevalence and vaccine coverage. Depending on the distribution of agent-types, the introduction of a vaccine or, if one is available, a subsidy for vaccination can increase disease prevalence by inducing more risky behavior.

Keywords or Phrases

Endemic equilibrium Reproductive number Dynamic programming STD Voluntary vaccination Mass vaccination