Public health impact of delaying second dose of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 covid-19 vaccine: Simulation agent based modeling study

Santiago Romero-Brufau, Ayush Chopra, Alex J. Ryu, Esma Gel, Ramesh Raskar, Walter Kremers, Karen S. Anderson, Jayakumar Subramanian, Balaji Krishnamurthy, Abhishek Singh, Kalyan Pasupathy, Yue Dong, John C. O'Horo, Walter R. Wilson, Oscar Mitchell, Thomas C. Kingsley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To estimate population health outcomes with delayed second dose versus standard schedule of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. Design Simulation agent based modeling study. Setting Simulated population based on real world US county. Participants The simulation included 100 000 agents, with a representative distribution of demographics and occupations. Networks of contacts were established to simulate potentially infectious interactions though occupation, household, and random interactions. Interventions Simulation of standard covid-19 vaccination versus delayed second dose vaccination prioritizing the first dose. The simulation runs were replicated 10 times. Sensitivity analyses included first dose vaccine efficacy of 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90% after day 12 post-vaccination; vaccination rate of 0.1%, 0.3%, and 1% of population per day; assuming the vaccine prevents only symptoms but not asymptomatic spread (that is, non-sterilizing vaccine); and an alternative vaccination strategy that implements delayed second dose for people under 65 years of age, but not until all those above this age have been vaccinated. Main outcome measures Cumulative covid-19 mortality, cumulative SARS-CoV-2 infections, and cumulative hospital admissions due to covid-19 over 180 days. Results Over all simulation replications, the median cumulative mortality per 100 000 for standard dosing versus delayed second dose was 226 v 179, 233 v 207, and 235 v 236 for 90%, 80%, and 70% first dose efficacy, respectively. The delayed second dose strategy was optimal for vaccine efficacies at or above 80% and vaccination rates at or below 0.3% of the population per day, under both sterilizing and non-sterilizing vaccine assumptions, resulting in absolute cumulative mortality reductions between 26 and 47 per 100 000. The delayed second dose strategy for people under 65 performed consistently well under all vaccination rates tested. Conclusions A delayed second dose vaccination strategy, at least for people aged under 65, could result in reduced cumulative mortality under certain conditions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbern1087
JournalThe BMJ
Volume373
DOIs
StatePublished - May 12 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Public health impact of delaying second dose of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 covid-19 vaccine: Simulation agent based modeling study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this