Spatial Accessibility Modeling of Vaccine Deserts as Barriers to Controlling SARS-CoV-2

  1. Benjamin Rader
  2. Christina M. Astley
  3. Kara Sewalk
  4. Paul L. Delamater
  5. Kathryn Cordiano
  6. Laura Wronski
  7. Jessica Malaty Rivera
  8. Kai Hallberg
  9. Megan F. Pera
  10. Jonathan Cantor
  11. Christopher M. Whaley
  12. Dena M. Bravata
  13. John S. Brownstein

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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine distribution is at risk of further propagating the inequities of COVID-19, which in the United States (US) has disproportionately impacted the elderly, people of color, and the medically vulnerable. We identify vaccine deserts - US Census tracts with localized, geographic barriers to vaccine-associated herd immunity - using a comprehensive supply database (VaccineFinder) and an empirically parameterized model of spatial access to essential resources. Incorporating high-resolution COVID-19 burden and time-willing-to-travel for vaccination, we show that early (February – March 2021) vaccine allocation disadvantaged rural and medically vulnerable populations. Data-driven vaccine distribution to vaccine deserts may improve immunization in the hesitant and control SARS-CoV-2.

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    SciScore for 10.1101/2021.06.09.21252858: (What is this?)

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    No key resources detected.

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  2. Version published to 10.1101/2021.06.09.21252858v1 on medRxiv