Covid-19 Australia: One in five hairdressers won’t get vaccinated, proving a roadblock in reopening plans

A new report has revealed the sobering statistic potentially standing in the way of hair salons reopening when life returns to normal.

One in five hairdressers refuse to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and another 16 per cent say they’re still unsure whether they will get the jab.

A sobering new report by the Australian Hairdressers Council (AHC) has found 22 per cent won’t get the Covid-19 vaccine despite the government repeatedly saying unvaccinated people will not be granted the same freedoms.

The report surveyed hairdressers, salon operators and owners from across Australia, the bulk of which were based in NSW.

Despite daily case numbers surging into the hundreds and the prospect of not being able to work, they have still refused to get the jab.

Almost three-quarters of hairdressers surveyed had received both doses of the vaccine and 23 per cent had received their first dose.

But that is overshadowed by the large cohort who refuse to get vaccinated.

“We were quite shocked at the amount that said they weren’t going to get vaccinated,” AHC chief executive Sandy Chong told NCA NewsWire.

Sandy Chong says many hairdressers are hesitant about getting the AstraZeneca vaccine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Peter Lorimer

“The majority of the industry are not vaccinated and won’t be by mid-October because of the access to the vaccine.”

She said many were still hesitant to get the AstraZeneca vaccine and were waiting for Pfizer supplies.

“If we were to open mid-October, all of my apprentices will not be vaccinated. They can’t get appointments until November and December,” she said.

Ms Chong was also pushing for hairdressers to get access to priority vaccinations given they cannot social distance while doing their job.

The survey also found that half of industry employers confirmed that their team had been vaccinated.

Respondents were split when asked whether they would prefer to employ someone who had been vaccinated against Covid-19, with 51 per cent saying “yes” and 49 per cent saying “no”.

Hairdressers in NSW in particular could reopen when the state hits the 70 per cent double dose target, with the Premier repeatedly warning those freedoms would only be for vaccinated residents.

Last month there was word that health and beauty salons would be some of the first businesses to reopen once certain vaccination targets were met.

However, the industry’s hopes were dashed when Gladys Berejiklian announced picnics could return in mid-September for vaccinated residents.

There was no mention of the hair or beauty industry.

One in five hairdressers won’t get the vaccine.

“It’s disappointing (that Ms Berejiklian did not confirm the industry reopening) … customers are desperate to get to a salon because getting your hair done helps with self-esteem and confidence and it’s a nice escape from reality,” she told NCA NewsWire.

At the time Ms Chong told NCA NewsWire that a lack of access to the vaccine, coupled with the rumours the industry was going to reopen early, had caused a divide.

“It created a divide between those who have been vaccinated and those who haven’t. There’s been a lot of angst, and even resignations, because (some) employees felt they were being mandated to get a vaccine to return to work,” she said.

Hairdressers were among the first businesses allowed to open their doors following last year’s statewide lockdown.

This time around the Premier has repeatedly said freedoms would only extend to vaccinated residents, which is believed to include both customers and workers.

More than 7.6 million NSW residents have received one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

According to the Covid Live website that tracks vaccination rates, NSW should achieve its 70 per cent double dose target on October 18.