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Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic represented a fundamental disruption to the ontological security of the South Asian community of Lower Mainland, British Columbia – challenging a social infrastructure built on proximal intimacy and intergenerational continuity. This research addresses the epistemic gap created by the historical reliance on aggregate health data, exploring how traditional patterns of communal life were reconfigured in response to the crisis and tracing the subsequent longitudinal journey of navigating complex public health interventions within a cultural context. Methods: This qualitative study followed a constructivist paradigm, conducting 30 to 60-minute semi-structured interviews with 54 South Asian residents across the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. The analysis progressed through the iterative, gerund-based coding levels of constructivist grounded theory to construct a substantive theory that conceptualizes evolving social processes. Results & Discussion: Regarding behavioral adaptations, findings reveal a profound transformation from communal assembly toward disciplined spatial distancing and social buffering. Participants utilized resilience to maintain cultural continuity through virtual connection while reconfiguring the home as an intergenerational sanctuary and a site of intensive sanitation. In the context of vaccine decision-making, the narratives reveal a longitudinal shift from an initial collective responsibility toward a more critical, selective form of health agency. This trajectory was mediated by the processing of post-vaccination impacts and an increasing inclination toward medical minimalism. Furthermore, participants engaged in sophisticated vaccine brand differentiation, where preferences for specific mRNA platforms were heavily influenced by established corporate brand recognition and the management of travel risk related to international travel requirements. Conclusion: This research concludes that effective public health engagement requires a shift toward relational health models that target the familial, or household, ecosystem rather than the individual alone. Grounding the theory in the perspectives of the South Asian community is essential to bridge the epistemic gap and foster institutional trust through consistent, culturally resonant messaging. Ultimately, protecting the health of diverse populations must be achieved through sustained partnership and a nuanced understanding of the diasporic realities that define the South Asian experience in British Columbia.