Dynamic of a Two-strain COVID-19 Model with Vaccination

Abstract COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by an RNA virus prone to mutations. In December 2020, variants with different characteristics that could affect transmissibility and death emerged around the world. To address this new dynamic of the disease, we formulate and analyze a mathematical model of a two-strain COVID-19 transmission dynamics with strain 1 vaccination. The model is theoretically analyzed and sufficient conditions for the stability of its equilibria are derived. In addition to the disease-free and endemic equilibria, the model also has single-strain 1 and strain 2 endemic equilibria. Using the center manifold theory, it is shown that the model does not exhibit the phenomenon of backward bifurcation, and global stability of the model equilibria when the basic reproduction number R 0 is either less or greater than unity as the case maybe are proved using various approaches. Simulations to support the model theoretical results are provided. We calculate the basic reproductive number for both strains R_1 and R_2 independently. Results indicate that - both strains will persist when both R 1 > 1 and R 2 > 1 - Stain 2 could establish itself as the dominant strain if R 1 1, or when R 2 is at least two times R 1 . However, with the current knowledge of the epidemiology of the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability of treatment and an effective vaccine against strain 1, eventually, strain 2 will likely be eradicated in the population if the threshold parameter R 2 is controlled to remain below unity.