Discrete Event Simulation for COVID-19 Drive-Through Mass Vaccine Distribution Events

Authors

  • Sajia Ema Department of Industrial Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, USA
  • Sayed Kaes Maruf Hossain Department of Industrial Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, USA
  • Hansuk Sohn Department of Industrial Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, USA
  • Christine Sohn College of Letters and Science, University of California-Los Angeles, CA 90095

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23055/ijietap.2024.31.4.8441

Keywords:

discrete event simulation, COVID-19, drive-through site, mass vaccination, simulation optimization

Abstract

The key aim of this research is to demonstrate how a discrete-event simulation model and the simulation-based optimization model could help organizers of the mass vaccination distribution site better understand the system dynamics and make effective data-driven decisions. The proposed simulation model was developed based on empirical data collected during the COVID-19 drive-through vaccination events and insights provided by the system experts. Both the simulation and the simulation-based optimization models are found to be effective in helping the COVID-19 drive-through events’ decision-makers by providing information on how their system would respond over time under various scenarios leading to more informed and systematic decisions about the process and resource management. The model could easily be extended and reused for any other drive-through mass vaccination facilities in the future.

Published

2024-08-15

How to Cite

Ema, S., Hossain, S. K. M., Sohn, H., & Sohn, C. (2024). Discrete Event Simulation for COVID-19 Drive-Through Mass Vaccine Distribution Events. International Journal of Industrial Engineering: Theory, Applications and Practice, 31(4). https://doi.org/10.23055/ijietap.2024.31.4.8441

Issue

Section

Modelling and Simulation