Type reproduction number for epidemic models on heterogeneous networks

Abstract

Infection can spread easily on networks with heterogeneous degree distribution. Here, we considered targeted immunization on such networks, wherein a fraction of individuals with the highest connectivity are immunized. To quantify the effect of this targeted immunization approach on population immunity, we proposed a method using the type reproduction number. Consequently, we derived a precise and simple formula that can yield the immunization threshold, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first such result presented in the literature.