Project R-14684

VacxSYS: An integrated systems thinking approach to enhance vaccination strategies (Research)

For many human infectious diseases, especially those caused by pathogens for which no effective treatment exists, the development, production, supply and optimal allocation of effective vaccines is of paramount importance. However, achieving an effective balance between supply and demand in vaccine supply chains is challenging. Optimal decision-making in vaccine supply chains is highly complex due to the many uncertainties involved, the relative lack of responsiveness of the chain and the many different public and private objectives at stake. Current literature on vaccine supply chain management falls short of recognising this system-wide complexity. Moreover, it is important to take into account the various sources of uncertainty in the evolution of disease dynamics. To achieve the ultimate goal of access to vaccines and obtain the desired health and economic outcomes, it is crucial to link the supply subsystem and the disease subsystem. This allows to model the dynamics of both supply and demand, combined with a multi-criteria decision analysis. Various best-in-class scenarios to support key decision makers will be the final outcome of the project.

01 January 2024 - 31 December 2027