Social restriction versus herd immunity policies in the early phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A mathematical modelling study
2
Issued Date
2023-09-01
Resource Type
ISSN
0125877X
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85174641651
Pubmed ID
33386788
Journal Title
Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology
Volume
41
Issue
3
Start Page
253
End Page
262
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology Vol.41 No.3 (2023) , 253-262
Suggested Citation
Chancharoenthana W., Leelahavanichkul A., Chinpraditsuk S., Pongpirul K., Kamolratanakul S., Phumratanaprapin W., Wilairatana P., Pitisuttithum P. Social restriction versus herd immunity policies in the early phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A mathematical modelling study. Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology Vol.41 No.3 (2023) , 253-262. 262. doi:10.12932/AP-140720-0914 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/90845
Title
Social restriction versus herd immunity policies in the early phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A mathematical modelling study
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Two main strategies to cope with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-lockdown (social restriction) and non-lockdown (herd immunity plan)-have been implemented in several countries. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to statistically compare the outcomes of the two strategies, represented by data from Thailand and Sweden, respectively. METHODS: Data for COVID-19 pandemic control from Thailand, representing social restriction, versus data from Sweden, representing the herd immunity plan, collected from January 13 to May 31, 2020, were analyzed by using the SIR (susceptible, infectious, recovered) model. RESULTS: The SIR model analysis demonstrated a beneficial effect of each model on the attenuation of the mortality rate, with lower mortality in social restriction and shorter overall pandemic duration in the herd immunity plan. However, the herd immunity plan demonstrated a higher mortality rate than social restriction (46.9% versus 1.9%) despite the later entry of the virus in Sweden. When the SIR model was used for predicting the COVID-19 status, Sweden was shown to likely end its COVID-19 epidemic earlier than Thailand (268 vs. 368 days). With the nonlinear estimation, at least one log difference between total confirmed cases versus active cases could be used as an indicator for relaxation of the lockdown policy in Thailand. CONCLUSIONS: Both the social restriction and herd immunity plans are beneficial for COVID-19 pandemic control in terms of the amelioration of pandemic mortality. The cumulative number of total recovered cases might be a potential parameter that could be used for determining the policy direction for COVID-19 control.