Risk-Taking Behavior and Its Impact on Treatment, Vaccination and Diagnosing

Abstract

We present results from two recent mathematical biology studies that address the effect of risk taking behavior on epidemic models. We show that when risk-taking prevails over risk-avoidance, it is possible to show a detrimental and counterintuitive effect from increasing vaccination and treatment rates over certain critical time intervals. In addition, when risk-taking has a cumulative effect within the population, a lower transmission rate from diagnosed infected individuals may prevent the intended effect of vaccination.

Keywords

• risk-taking behaviour
• treatment
• vaccination
• diagnosing