In: Economics
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended against vaccinnating the whole population against the smallpox virus because the vaccination has undesirable, and sometimes fatal, side effects. Suppose that the accompanying table gives the data that are available about the effects of a smallpox vaccination program.
Percent of population vaccinated | Deaths Due to Small Pox | Deaths due to vaccination side effects |
0% | 200 | 0 |
10% | 180 | 4 |
20% | 160 | 8 |
30% | 140 | 12 |
40% | 120 | 16 |
50% | 100 | 20 |
60% | 80 | 24 |
a. Calculate the marginal benefit and marginal cost (in terms of lives saved) of each 10% increment in vaccination.
b. What is the optimal % of the population that should be vaccinated?