The challenge of understanding pandemics, illustrated by the recent COVID-19 outbreak, has significantly impacted global health and economies. A comprehensive understanding of disease progression and effective response strategies is imperative to better prepare for potential future outbreaks. This project addresses these concerns by highlighting the potential of Agent-Based Models (ABM) in comprehensively capturing the intricate dynamics of infection spread and intervention impacts. We demonstrate real-world pandemic simulations incorporating pharmaceutical, behavioral, and digital interventions, mirroring real-world policy challenges, and propose a holistic approach combining these interventions for pandemic management. Utilizing these simulations based on socio-demographic and geo-census data from Kings County, Washington, the study delineates the critical role of the initial 100 days in steering the course of a pandemic, underscoring the significance of rapid decision-making and effective policy formulation.
Additionally, the research findings emphasize the potential of investments in behavioral and digital interventions to alleviate the reliance on pharmaceutical measures, reducing infection rates and hospitalizations while delaying the peak of a pandemic. Furthermore, the study infers that allocating resources towards extensive testing with contact tracing and self-quarantine might offer superior cost efficiency compared to focusing the entire budget solely on vaccinations.