Fundamental bound on epidemic overshoot in the SIR model.

Nguyen, Maximilian M; Freedman, Ari S; Ozbay, Sinan A; Levin, Simon A · J R Soc Interface · 2023

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We derive an exact upper bound on the epidemic overshoot for the Kermack-McKendrick SIR model. This maximal overshoot value of 0.2984 · · · occurs at [Formula: see text]. In considering the utility of the notion of overshoot, a rudimentary analysis of data from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Manaus, Brazil highlights the public health hazard posed by overshoot for epidemics with <i>R</i><sub>0</sub> near 2. Using the general analysis framework presented within, we then consider more complex SIR models that incorporate vaccination.

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