Track: Modeling and Simulation

Abstract

Vaccines such as hepatitis, chicken pox, tuberculosis, measles, mumps, etc. applied to newborn babies are necessary to ensure infant immunity and to strengthen public health in the long run. The COVID-19 epidemic, which has been experienced in the past two years, has once again reminded humanity importance of the vaccination. Vaccination process protects communities from possible virus and possible effects, at the same time makes such diseases preventable. Another important issue related to vaccination process is the establishment of herd immunity by reaching a large part of the population. Additionally, in cases of pandemics and similar situations, the crowded population waiting for vaccination services in places such as hospitals and family health centers is at risk of contamination. As a solution to these problems, in this study, it is aimed to establish mobile vaccination centers to create herd immunity and to ensure the easy accessibility of these healthcare services. Deciding where mobile vaccination centers will be located for accessibility is the most important and critical point. Hence, it is aimed to place mobile vaccination centers and to locate these centers by covering maximum people with minimum cost. The mathematical model of the decision problem was established with capacitated maximum coverage location model and solved with genetic algorithm. A case study will be conducted in one of the most densely populated districts of Istanbul.