London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Tell us about your current research

I am a PhD student, and my research is exploring methodological challenges in evaluating the safety of multi-dose vaccines, using observational study designs. My work focuses on issues such as time-related biases in cohort studies and assumption violations in some self-controlled designs, which become particularly complex when multiple doses are involved. I use an example of COVID-19 vaccines and their potential effects on acute neurological outcomes to explore these methodological issues.

How did you first become interested in vaccines?

My interest in vaccines began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when vaccines became a critical tool to curb the pandemic, but their emergency authorisation raised concerns about their safety and effectiveness. At the time, I worked with a research team at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (now KCMC university) in Tanzania on studies related to vaccine hesitancy, uptake and confidence. This experience showed me how a lack of trust in authorities, misinformation, disinformation undermines vaccine confidence and therefore impacts uptake. It also highlighted the importance of engaging communities early in vaccination campaigns to address hesitancy. Since then, I have continued to work on vaccines, focusing on both the social epidemiology­_­ including uptake, hesitancy and confidence and on pharmaco-epidemiology exploring vaccine safety. 

What do you find particularly interesting working as a member of the Vaccine Centre?

Being part of the Vaccine Centre gives me an opportunity to engage with experts across many sub-disciplines of vaccinology, broadening my perspective of this complex field. While my work focuses on vaccine safety, I gain valuable insights from other areas such as immunology, vaccine development, clinical trials and social aspects such as uptake. This interdisciplinary environment fosters networks and collaborations that can lead to meaningful impact.

I especially appreciate how engaging the centre is. Early in my MSc program at LSHTM, before formally joining the committee, I participated in a school-based public engagement activity simulating discussions with pupils about ethical issues around parental concerns over vaccinating at-risk newborn against a vertically transmitted disease. I am excited to now be part of the outreach working group and I look forward to organising similar activities in the near future.

What do you hope to achieve during your time as a member of the Vaccine Centre?

I hope to contribute to the Centre’s work on vaccine hesitancy, uptake, confidence, and methods for evaluating vaccine effects by drawing on my experience in the field. I’m also keen to learn from colleagues working in areas such as basic research and immunology to broaden my understanding of vaccines. Additionally, I aim to build networks that could lead to future collaborations while supporting the Centre’s activities.

Where do you think your research will take you?

I hope my research will contribute to the generation of robust evidence on the safety of vaccines and that I can apply my skills to contribute to the evidence of the safety and effectiveness of other medical interventions across different populations and therapeutic areas. As a clinician, I aim to use this evidence to help patients make informed decisions about these life-saving interventions.

I also hope that my research will bring me into communities, where I can engage directly to understand the root causes of vaccine hesitancy and identify effective strategies to address it. As an academic, I aspire to mentor young researchers, particularly in low-resource settings in the field of vaccines and beyond. I also aim to foster collaborations to develop research-friendly electronic medical records, enabling better study of the long-term effects of vaccines and medications in resource-limited areas.

What are some of the real-life implications of your work?

By exploring appropriate methodologies for evaluating vaccine safety, my work helps ensure that robust evidence is available to support decision-making at different levels; from regulatory agencies assessing licensure, manufactures refining vaccine formulations, clinicians advising patients, and individuals deciding whether to vaccinate.

The social science aspect of my research focuses on uncovering the causes of vaccine hesitancy and low confidence, both of which undermine uptake. Since vaccines saves millions of lives every year and vaccine hesitancy is recognised by the World Health Organization as a major global health threat, understanding these factors is essential for designing effective interventions to improve vaccine uptake and protect public health. 

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Catching up with my friends and family, travelling, long walks, and a good read are a perfect way for me to recharge and recalibrate.

How can people get and stay in touch with you?

Email me: [email protected]