The world is waiting for a vaccine to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 . However, once it becomes available, there will not be enough to vaccinate everybody at once . Therefore, vaccination and social distancing has to be coordinated. In this paper, we provide some insight on this topic using optimization-based control on an age-differentiated compartmental model. For real-life decision making  we investigate the impact of the planning horizon on the optimal vaccination/social distancing strategy. We find that in order to reduce social distancing in the long run  without overburdening the intensive care units it is essential to vaccinate the people with the highest contact rates first.  However, for short-term planning it is optimal to focus on the high-risk group . Furthermore, large amounts of a vaccine with a lower success rate allows for more reduction of the social distancing than smaller amounts of a vaccine with higher success rate .
Most countries have started vaccinating people against COVID-19 . However, due to limited production capacities and logistical challenges it will take months/years until herd immunity is achieved . Therefore, vaccination and social distancing have to be coordinated. In this paper, we provide some insight on this topic using optimization-based control on an age-differentiated compartmental model. For real-life decision making , we investigate the impact of the planning horizon on the optimal vaccination/social distancing strategy. We find that in order to reduce social distancing in the long run , without overburdening the healthcare system, it is essential to vaccinate the people with the highest contact rates first. That is also the case if the objective is to minimize fatalities provided that the social distancing measures are sufficiently strict. However, for short-term planning it is optimal to focus on the high-risk group .
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The world is waiting for a vaccine to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2
Most countries have started vaccinating people against COVID-19
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once it becomes available, there will not be enough to vaccinate everybody at once
due to limited production capacities and logistical challenges it will take months/years until herd immunity is achieved
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has
have
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,
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,
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intensive care units
healthcare system,
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That is also the case if the objective is to minimize fatalities provided that the social distancing measures are sufficiently strict.
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. Furthermore, large amounts of a vaccine with a lower success rate allows for more reduction of the social distancing than smaller amounts of a vaccine with higher success rate