Knowledge-based Optimization in Epidemics Prevention

The paper "Knowledge-based Optimization in Epidemics Prevention" proposes a knowledge-based method for optimization of vaccination assignments using epidemic modelling on graphs. A multiobjective evolutionary algorithm is used as the global optimizer with a local search procedure performing solution improvement based on counter-epidemic strategies known from epidemiology. The proposed method allows prioritizing the vaccinations according to the age of the individual or the node degree, which represents the number of contacts. With the aim of bringing this study closer to real-life applications, infection costs are calculated using real-life cost estimates found in the literature regarding the COVID-19 epidemic. Also, graph nodes have the "age" attribute assigned, which affects hospitalization probability and thus the infection costs.