Optimizing vaccination facility locations and capacity for pandemic response: A case study of Mashhad, Iran

Strategic and tactical issues must be considered when determining the location of facilities for service provision during healthcare crises. This paper introduces a systematic multi-step approach for selecting the location of immunization centers and warehouses for medical supplies during a pandemic. Initially, the relevant strategic criteria encompassing infrastructure, environmental, and socio-demographic dimensions are identified from the literature. Expert opinions are then solicited through the Best-Worst Method to assess the importance of each criterion. In the third step, a Geographic Information System is employed to identify potential locations and their strategic cost based on these criteria. Finally, a Two-Echelon Capacitated Location Allocation Problem (2E-CLAP), integrating fairness and capacity considerations, is formulated to select optimal sites based on strategic costs utilizing the principles of the classic p-center and set covering problems. The model is solved using an enhanced multi-objective Genetic Algorithm. The methodology is validated through a case study to identify the location of vaccination facilities in Mashhad, Iran. The findings underscore the capability of the proposed approach to alleviate patient congestion at vaccination centers while concurrently optimizing the strategic criteria and ensuring comprehensive coverage for all city residents.