Ecology and Evolution
Smallpox, Mumps, and Beyond: Vaccination Strategies in an Age of Emerging Infectious Diseases
ECEV 31600 | 75 Credits
- Elective Type: Non-Clinical
- Primary Instructor: Greg Dwyer
- Contact: Greg Dwyer| 834-7691 | gdwyer@uchicago.edu
- Location on first day: TBA
- Included in Lottery: YES
- Last Reviewed: March 9, 2007
Overview
The looming threats of bioterrorism and emerging diseases arouse the specters of wide-spread death and suffering. Meanwhile, mistrust of science is leading many parents to withhold vaccines from their children, leading in turn to rising levels of childhood diseases. Addressing these risks requires innovative vaccination strategies. An important tool for evaluating vaccination strategies is provided by mathematical models of epidemics. But how can a health-care professional understand the uses of models without a Ph.D in math? In this course, we will learn how to evaluate models of vaccination strategies, from the perspective of officials charged with constructing public-health policy. Students will not need any more math than the vague memory that they might once have known what a derivative is.
Objectives
Students should be able to read and understand the current literature on the use of mathematical models to guide vaccination strategies. This means understanding a model’s structure and assumptions, how the parameter values were estimated, and what the model implies about vaccination strategies.
Evaluation
Evaluation of performance will be based on class participation.
Offered:
- October
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | |||||||
| PM | 3:30-5:00 PM | 3:30-5:00 PM |
Schedule Notes
It may be possible to adjust the meeting times, based on student schedules.
Course Limitations and Prerequisites
Maximum Students Enrolled: 20
- Eligibility:
- Fourth year
- Prerequisites:
- Consent of Instructor