Towards widespread vaccination in an era of vaccine hesitancy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K04545
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 25010:Social systems engineering-related
• Research Institution: Fisheries Research and Education Agency (2022-2023); Tokyo Institute of Technology (2021)
• Principal Investigator: JUSUP Marko 国立研究開発法人水産研究・教育機構, 水産資源研究所(横浜), 主任研究員 (60762713)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 疫学 / 進化ゲーム理論 / 数理モデル化 / 意思決定 / ワクチン接種

Outline of Final Research Achievements

During the research period, the focus was on understanding the dynamics behind people's decisions to accept or reject vaccines. We developed an innovative mathematical model to simulate social and epidemiological behaviors related to vaccine uptake. This model considers both rational decision-makers and those influenced by social trends or entrenched beliefs. Through a successful collaboration with researchers from Kobe University and Aalto University in Finland, we enhanced the generality and relevance of our model with realistic human-behavior patterns and multiple layers of decision-making processes.
Our simulations revealed important insights into how vaccines are accepted within communities, especially during pandemics like Covid-19. For example, our model highlighted the strong impact of social influence on vaccine acceptance. These findings are crucial for designing more effective public health strategies and vaccination campaigns.

Free Research Field

数理生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的意義は、ワクチン接種に関する意思決定を理解するための革新的な数理モデルの開発にある。当モデルは合理的および非合理的な行動を含むため、疫学研究に新たな視点を提供する。社会的意義としては、特に新型コロナウイルスのような感染症流行時におけるワクチン受け入れの促進に役立つ知見を提供し、より効果的な公衆衛生戦略の設計に寄与する。これにより、感染症対策の向上と社会全体の健康促進が期待される。