The Pandemic is a Prisoner’s Dilemma Game
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/20/health/virus-vaccine-game-theory.html
2020 and the onset of the coronavirus pandemic have not only put a strain on our daily lives but have forced people to make difficult choices about whether or not it’s a good idea to go out and socialize with their friends that they normally wouldn’t have considered. According to the article, there’s actually a lot of game theory when it comes to people going out because their choices not only affect their own safety but the safety of others as well. For example, if everyone followed CDC guidelines to wear a mask in public and to constantly wash their hands, the overall safety of the population would go up, however, there are many incentives to cheat. Masks are uncomfortable and can be hard to breathe in, and washing one’s hands constantly can be time-consuming and inconvenient.
Going outside and getting a vaccine can be compared to the popular prisoner’s dilemma game. The fundamental question that people have been struggling with is: Is the vaccine worth it? While the overall benefits of getting vaccinated might prevent one from contracting the virus when they go outside, there are also some perceived side effects that people are worried about. Additionally, the more people that get the vaccine, the safer it becomes for the general population due to the herd immunity effect. However, some people might play the waiting game and let everyone else get vaccinated so they receive the herd immunity effects without having to worry about the possible side effects that come with the vaccine.
Interestingly enough, the article also talks about how infectious disease models fail to account for human behavior. One of the biggest reasons why there has been a cycle of cases rising and falling has to do largely with human behavior. When cases are low and vaccine rates are high, people come more at ease and are more willing to take risks like not wearing a mask when outside. This leads to a gradual increase in the number of cases and in return people take more precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease.