Prioritizing COVID-19 vaccine allocation in resource poor settings: towards an artificial intelligence-enabled and geospatial-assisted decision support framework

<p><strong>Objectives:&nbsp;</strong>To propose a novel framework for COVID-19 vaccine allocation based on three components of Vulnerability, Vaccination, and Values (3Vs).</p> <p><strong>Methods:&nbsp;</strong>A combination of geospatial data analys...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shayegh, S, Andreu-Perez, J, Akoth, C, Bosch-Capblanch, X, Dasgupta, S, Falchetta, G, Gregson, S, Hammad, AT, Herringer, M, Kapkea, F, Labella, A, Lisciotto, L, Martínez, L, Macharia, PM, Morales-Ruiz, P, Murage, N, Offeddu, V, South, A, Torbica, A, Trentini, F, Melegaro, A
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science 2023
Description
Summary:<p><strong>Objectives:&nbsp;</strong>To propose a novel framework for COVID-19 vaccine allocation based on three components of Vulnerability, Vaccination, and Values (3Vs).</p> <p><strong>Methods:&nbsp;</strong>A combination of geospatial data analysis and artificial intelligence methods for evaluating vulnerability factors at the local level and allocate vaccines according to a dynamic mechanism for updating vulnerability and vaccine uptake.</p> <p><strong>Results:&nbsp;</strong>A novel approach is introduced including (I) Vulnerability data collection (including country-specific data on demographic, socioeconomic, epidemiological, healthcare, and environmental factors), (II) Vaccination prioritization through estimation of a unique Vulnerability Index composed of a range of factors selected and weighed through an Artificial Intelligence (AI-enabled) expert elicitation survey and scientific literature screening, and (III) Values consideration by identification of the most effective GIS-assisted allocation of vaccines at the local level, considering context-specific constraints and objectives.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:&nbsp;</strong>We showcase the performance of the 3Vs strategy by comparing it to the actual vaccination rollout in Kenya. We show that under the current strategy, socially vulnerable individuals comprise only 45% of all vaccinated people in Kenya while if the 3Vs strategy was implemented, this group would be the first to receive vaccines.</p>