Covid-19: Lack of trust by tradies stops jabs

Tradies heavily impacted by lockdowns are increasingly concerned that states and territories will not stick to the national reopening plan.

Uncertainty over health advice and restrictions are fuelling vaccine hesitancy in the construction sector. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Tradies heavily impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns are increasingly concerned that states and territories will not stick to the national reopening plan, with uncertainty over health advice and restrictions fuelling vaccine hesitancy in the construction sector.

Research by Master Builders Australia, who will launch a national advertising blitz promoting vaccination on Monday and pressure states and territories to keep faith in the national plan, revealed inconsistent messaging from premiers and chief ministers was the “single biggest barrier to vaccine uptake”.

MBA chief executive Denita Wawn told The Australian “we need state and territory leaders to play their part and stop disincentivising vaccination”.

“As more vaccine doses enter the country we are calling on … governments to commit to keeping their promise at national cabinet to ensure people in our industry have the incentive to get those vaccines in their arms,” Ms Wawn said.

“The research we have commissioned shows that fundamental lack of trust that state and territory leaders will open up when vaccination rates reach 70 and 80 per cent is the major barrier to people in our industry getting vaccinated.

“Refusal … to commit 100 per cent to keep the promise they made at national cabinet to reopen when vaccination rates reach 70 and 80 per cent risks trapping us in Covid catch-22 and they must break that cycle.”

MBA analysis of the economic impact of Covid-19 restrictions showed that where construction activity was impacted by a national lockdown, more than $26m per week in wages were at risk. Recent shutdowns and restrictions on construction activity in NSW, Victoria and the ACT are estimated to have put at risk $15.6m per week in wages.

Ms Wawn said the MBA research, prepared by Laidlaw Campaigns, showed that the refusal of some state leaders in committing to reopening when vaccine targets were achieved was the “biggest barrier to males under-40 in our industry getting the jab”.

“They aren’t anti-vaxxers but the promise to restore their freedoms when enough people are vaccinated is their fundamental motivation to get the jab. Their lack of trust in state and territory leaders to keep that promise is going to slow down vaccine uptake,” she said.

“These respondents (18-40) were not anti-vaxxers, but they do not see a vaccine as an immediate personal priority. Despite the fact they know that it is the right thing to do to get the vaccine in the long-term, there is no emotional motivation for them to do it right away,” the survey analysis said.