Abstract
Vaccine hesitancy is a global health concern, influencing vaccination rates and public wellbeing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became a critical concern due to the profound effect on public health. There have been studies connecting vaccine hesitancy and political ideologies, and vaccine hesitancy and media usage, but as the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine are still new, there is a gap in existing data due to the lack of in-depth interviews. Using in-depth interviews, individual perceptions of vaccine hesitancy and effecting causes are explored, looking into the complexity of the situation and the decision-making processes of individuals. This study uses the framework of the 3 Cs of vaccine hesitancy - complacency, confidence, and convenience - while exploring beyond the scope of the three concepts. This thesis found that there was sufficient data to argue for a more intensive look into incentives along with the 3 Cs, and how those incentives help reduce hesitancy.