Vaccination South Africa – Why is it Important to You?

Guest post by Mark Timms of Mark Adrian Hair Design, written in support of the Industry Vaccination campaign.

As part of the Covid-awareness information discussion, we’ve asked for your thoughts and real life stories of what you’ve experienced with covid in your life or in the industry, and why the vaccine is so important to you in your life.

A well-respected voice in the South African hair industry, Mark Timms has owned Mark Adrian Hair Design in Cape Town for over 20 years and is still passionate about hair. He feels very positively about the South African vaccination programme and describes his journey.

Safety protocols in the salon and vaccinations ensure confidence in everyone’s minds.

Thank you for inviting me to share my views on Covid.

I have very strong views with regards to the health and safety of our team, friends, and family. The salon is sanitised constantly but I believe that a quick spray of the workstation, chair and basin between clients is not enough. We atomise the air in the salon. We have had over 4000 clients visit us without one calling to say they could have contracted Covid at the salon.

We literally walk through the salon spraying sanitiser up towards the ceiling for the ultimate protection.

There is no way that we haven’t had clients with covid visit the salon, so I am convinced that this has kept us safe.

I am in the fortunate situation that my team are soon to have their second vaccination and recognize that this will save their lives. I have completed the process with pride and even psychologically feel shielded but not immune moving forward.

The real truth of covid – Groote Schuur

Now for the real truth. I have a client that works at Groote Schuur. He has worked there in a senior position for over twenty years. You might have heard him interviewed on Cape Talk pleading with people to vaccinate. He too suffered from covid after being vaccinated and months later is left with an irritating constant cough.

The news he shared was astounding. Of the last 1300 patients admitted to the covid ward, not one had been vaccinated. Not one! And over 100 were using ivermectin when admitted. I want to shout from the roof tops: STATISTICS DON’T LIE.

There will always be those that follow the dangerous route, have a fear of needles, believe the conspiracy theories, or just can’t be bothered. My own sister-in-law said she would never have it until her father-in-law and mother-in-law were intubated and survived but sadly were left severely traumatized by the horrendous ordeal.

A shocking reality shared by my client is that this is like nothing he’s seen before. The autopsy on a covid lung revealed how the lungs were filled with a type of slime not phlegm leading to a form of drowning. Yes, a gruesome description but the message has to get through to those who will ultimately get covid themselves or are sure to pass it on to some innocent party that took the time to protect others.

The Union, Bargaining Council and Employers’ association must band together and make vaccinations mandatory. We are within 30 centimeters of clients all day long. Every day we walk into the salon unvaccinated we have the potential to kill or be killed. Are you willing to take that chance?

I personally will not employ anyone without the proof of vaccination. To an anti-vaxxer, this would be harsh and unacceptable, and they would be shouting profanities at me through the screen right now.

I am usually very upbeat yet find myself quite exhausted as I prepared this message.

Stay safe and celebrate love, life, family, and friends x

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We’ve asked some of our top professionals in the industry to share their thoughts with us and each week we’ll be sharing their stories for you to enjoy. If you have a positive experience you’d like to share with us on the vaccine and the differences it’s made in your personal life or your salon and with your clients’ appreciation of their salon experiences, please send to Beth at beth@hairnews.co.za, with a photo you’d like us to use!

Industry Vaccination: Safety, Sustainability and A Return to Normality