Effective countermeasures against exponential expansion of SARS-CoV-2 transmission are needed urgently to induce herd immunity and protect the most vulnerable population groups from COVID-19 infection.
Induction of herd immunity by mass vaccination has been a very successful strategy for preventing the spread of many infectious diseases including smallpox and polio.1,2 Therefore, immunization represents one of the most promising counter-pandemic measures to COVID-19. Comprehensive technology platforms can help accelerate the immunization efforts to bring the vaccine to the population that needs it the most.
The structure of this paper is as follows. First, we summarize recommendations from studies on prioritizing population for COVID-19 vaccine allocations. We then review preliminary CDC guidelines provided to state jurisdictions for vaccine delivery preparedness. We also estimate the share of vulnerable population in Indiana and their regional distribution. Further, we discuss the need to focus on the last mile effort for vaccinating such population. A comprehensive list of potential strategies that could be implemented to help vaccinate vulnerable population is explained. Finally, we discuss how technologies can help bridge the gap between supply and demand of vaccination among this population.
