Mathematical Models of Vaccine-Preventable Disease in California: Influenza, Measles, and Varicella

Sarah Ackley, PhD '18

With growing concern about vaccine refusal, methods to quantify changes in transmission of vaccine-preventable disease are becoming increasingly important. Using surveillance data from the California Department of Public Health and branching process methods, I estimated changes in transmissibility for three vaccine-preventable diseases: influenza, measles, and varicella. This work has the potential to inform surveillance activities and contact investigation in the state of California.