COVID-19 Vaccine Selection Decision Based On Z- Number Valuation Approach

The decision to select a COVID-19 vaccine was observed as a complex task for the decision makers since it involved uncertainty of nature and it has multifaceted characteristics. Due to its complexity, the Z-number valuation approach was applied to provide the two components of evaluation concurrently. The first component (A) is a restriction of the evaluated attributes and the second component (B) is a degree of certainty with respect to the first component, A. Thus, this study proposed a Z-number valuation in the entire analysis, equipped with two representation operators, the so-called graded mean integration representation and the canonical representation of multiple operations. Both representations have been utilised as an operation medium in the Z-number computing process. A numerical example via a case study related to the COVID-19 vaccine selection decision was adopted to show the proposed approach feasibility. It was found that the approach is sufficient due to its flexibility and is able to deal effectively with uncertainty in the decision process based on the calculation results. In addition, the approach offers more confident decision with fewer computations.