Mathematical model for impact of awareness on COVID-19 vaccination among the youth in Kenya

Abstract

Approximately 124 million cases of COVID-19 infections have been confirmed; with over 2.7 million deaths globally. Vaccines have been developed to control and contain the spread of COVID-19. However, due to the combined effects of misinformation and unawareness about the vaccines, 52% of the Kenyan youths (aged 18-35 years) are hesitantly waiting to see what happens to the vaccinated. As a result, this study models the effects of awareness on vaccine uptake among the youths in Kenya through the use of televisions, radios and social media platforms. The disease-free equilibrium (DFE) point and endemic equilibrium point (EEP) of the model are obtained by setting the derivatives to zero. The reproduction number is determined by using the next-generation matrix. The condition for stability of the DFE is shown in relation to the reproduction number. The DFE is stable when the reproduction number R0 < 1 and unstable when R0 > 1. It is found that both means of awareness reduced the COVID-19 infections. A simultaneous use of the methods increased the number of Kenyan youths taking the COVID-19 vaccines and consequently, further reducing the number of infections among the youths.