Game Theory and the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Puzzle
Article: https://www.rand.org/blog/2021/03/how-game-theory-could-solve-the-covid-19-vaccine-rollout.html
The U.S. has been dealing with adjusting with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and in an effort to return back to normalcy, the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has become increasingly more important. In theory, getting as many citizens vaccinated as possible seems like a straightforward task; however, there have been logistical issues in the process of this vaccine rollout that few would have anticipated when the pandemic began. As the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines continues, there has been a multitude of problematic situations occurring within local vaccination centers: too many people at a certain location, expiring vaccines being hastily administered, and even vaccinations occurring in the middle of traffic (during a snowstorm). It is imperative to the future of this country that the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is handled to the best of our ability and with utmost efficiency. A possible solution, proposed by Luke Muggy, is the application of game theory by state authorities in the context of improving the efficiency of vaccine distribution.
In this case, the “players” would be the people seeking care, which would be selecting their healthcare facility — this is the action of the players in this context. The payoffs of these selections would be “measured in terms of how individuals perceive the risk of vaccination, distance traveled, and level of service available at a chosen facility. The level of service might be captured in terms of the congestion of facilities or a supply-demand ratio.” In further analysis of this game theory scenario, in the case that equilibrium solutions involve overpacked vaccination centers, there could be solutions brought about by a city that involve providing free transportation to further vaccination centers as well as publicizing data about vaccination centers such as vaccine supply, approximate wait times, and overall demand at each location. This could allow individuals the opportunities to make the best possible decisions regarding their means of vaccination as well as increasing the likelihood of vaccination efficiency. The concept of game theory in class was usually applied to certain, specific scenarios such as the prisoner’s dilemma or the analysis of an actual football game; it caught my attention to see the application of game theory in such a relevant and pressing issue in today’s society. This real-world scenario has shown me a newfound appreciation for understanding the principles of game theory and how they impact everyday human life and interactions within society in a multitude of situations and scenarios.