Instruction: Explain how you would use causal inference methods to determine the effect of a new vaccine on infection rates in a population.
Context: This question evaluates the applicant's ability to apply causal inference techniques to a public health context, requiring consideration of both the ethical and methodological challenges involved.
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First, let's clarify the objective: We aim to ascertain the causal effect of a new vaccine on reducing infection rates within a specific population. This involves comparing the incidence of infections among vaccinated individuals against those unvaccinated.
To approach this, I would employ a combination of propensity score matching and difference-in-differences (DiD) analysis. These methods help in mitigating confounding variables and biases that could skew the results....
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