Enhancing vaccination strategies for epidemic control through effective lockdown measures.

Evolutionary epidemiology models have substantially impacted the study of various infections and prevention methods in the biology field. These models are called Susceptible, Lockdown, Vaccinated, Infected, and Recovered (SLVIR) epidemic dynamics. We explore how human behavior, particularly in the context of disease transmission, is influenced by two intervention strategies: vaccination and lockdown, both of which are grounded in the principles of evolutionary game theory (EGT). This comprehensive study using evolutionary game theory delves into the dynamics of epidemics, explicitly focusing on the transition rate from susceptibility to immunity and susceptibility to lockdown measures. Our research involves a thorough analysis of the structural aspects of the SLVIR epidemic model, which delineates disease-free equilibria to ensure stability in the system. Our investigation supports the notion that implementing lockdown measures effectively reduces the required level of vaccinations to curtail the prevalence of new infections. Furthermore, it highlights that combining both strategies is particularly potent when an epidemic spreads rapidly. In regions where the disease spreads comparatively more, our research demonstrates that lockdown measures are more effective in reducing the spread of the disease than relying solely on vaccines. Through significant numerical simulations, our research illustrates that integrating lockdown measures and efficient vaccination strategies can indirectly lower the risk of infection within the population, provided they are both dependable and affordable. The outcomes reveal a nuanced and beneficial scenario where we examine the interplay between the evolution of vaccination strategies and lockdown measures, assessing their coexistence through indicators of average social payoff.