Nidhi Sanghavi

My thesis topic

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Middle-Aged and Older Adults in India – A Mixed-Methods Study

My honours thesis is focused on identifying the key factors that affect vaccination beliefs among middle-aged and older adults in India. As it is extremely important to achieve high vaccination rates in India to stop the third wave of the pandemic, this research aims to bridge the gap in knowledge by analyzing the obtained results to identify the factors that contribute to the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. This research utilized a mixed-method approach using surveys and semi-structured interviews to yield comprehensive findings of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy determinants and provide evidence-based data on the vaccination experiences of the people in India. My work will contribute to the growing body of knowledge that may be used to develop best practices for future vaccination campaigns.

My thesis supervisor is Dr. Elena Neiterman.

Why did you do this project?

The COVID-19 pandemic led to millions of cases of infections and deaths. India saw the worst of the pandemic in 2021, with inadequate resources to treat people in the hospitals and insufficient vaccines to vaccinate everyone. With the regional variations in literacy levels and health-care inequities, vaccinating every citizen is a challenge. The bigger issue is to vaccinate those who are hard to reach and are vaccine-hesitant, in order to keep the resurgence of the COVID-19 cases under control. As an international student, I wanted to pursue an independent research project based in my home country, India, where I could study the issue of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in greater detail as it was such a relevant and interesting topic. Through my co-op position, I gained skills in research and wanted an opportunity to conduct an entire research project to be able to apply these skills in the real world. This undergraduate thesis was a perfect opportunity for me to hopefully make an impact and co-create knowledge in some capacity.

What did you enjoy about it the most?

Working on this research project has been a very challenging yet rewarding process. The thing I liked the most about this project was the independence and flexibility that came with it. Compared to the traditional courses on campus, this project was exciting as it did not have any hard deadlines and I had the creative freedom to shape this research based on my academic interests. In collaboration with Dr. Neiterman, the opportunity and responsibility of being in charge of each step in the research process was a fantastic experience. Additionally, as my research involved a quantitative and qualitative strand for data collection, I was able to gain valuable experience with both types of research and challenge myself in new ways.

How do you think it will help in the future?

This experience is going to greatly benefit me in the academic endeavors I take up in the future. The communication, writing, time-management, literature reviews and data analysis skills I gained through this thesis are a stepping stone for future education and employment opportunities. I hope to pursue a master’s degree in the future and am confident that these skills will better prepare me to conduct research work. I am certain that my academic growth and learning experience from this project will allow me to develop a nuanced understanding of research methodologies, which will help me in my future career.