Hairstylists are New Mexico's Newest Vaccine Propagandists
compliments of the CDC
Move over Krispy Kreme… there’s a new vax enthusiast in town.
Chair Care: Where Beauty Meets Health
If you live in New Mexico, your next haircut may come with a complimentary vaccination indoctrination session thanks to a collaboration between Presbyterian Community Health, Better Together NM and a $4k stipend for your stylist from the CDC and the NM Department of Health.
Chair Care is a program that addresses vaccine hesitancy. Its goal is to increase awareness about COVID-19, long COVID-19 and flu among New Mexicans. Vaccine hesitancy refers to a range of concerns people have about vaccines. Addressing and clarifying those concerns with factual, current information helps protect people from preventable illness.
Crucial partners in this effort are called Trusted Messengers: local hair stylists working in privately owned salons. We use culturally appropriate language to reach clients across diverse racial, ethnic and socio-economic populations.
You trust them with your hair. Why not let your hairdresser help you with medical decision-making?
Rest assured, these “trusted messengers” have been through two full-day trainings where they will learn “1) motivational interviewing, 2) COVID-19 basics, 3) flu basics and 4) long COVID-19 basics.”
What is a Trusted Messenger?
Chair Care Trusted Messengers are hair stylists who are committed to supporting healthy communities.
Research tells us that who a message comes from is just as important – if not more - than what the content of the message is*. Chair Care TMs play a critical role in sharing the facts about vaccination with their clients because their clients trust them. TMs can talk with their clients about vaccinations in a more relaxed, conversational way than traditional authority figures or healthcare providers sometimes can.
…The Chair Care program is committed to equity and recognizes the value of TMs in their communities. TMs will receive a stipend of $4,000 (including NM GRT) as compensation for active participation and time dedicated to the program.
Since the Chair Care program is funded by the CDC, it will be just like learning about vaccines from Mandy Cohen… but with scissors and hair dye.
You know… “relaxed” and “conversational.”
Chair Care was designed using New Mexico Department of Health vaccine data reports. That data shows New Mexico’s Latinx/Hispanic, Black/African American, Native/Tribal and politically conservative populations have the lowest vaccine uptake and/or highest vaccine hesitancy.
I’m sure it will be perfectly comfortable discussing these things with a person who will temporarily determine the fate of your appearance.
Best of luck!
Updated: Almost forgot! If you don’t love this idea, sign the New Mexico Freedom Alliance Call to Action: https://www.nmfa.us/post/call-to-action-nmdoh-paying-hairstylists-to-convince-people-to-get-vaccinated
In the “interest of full disclosure” will the hair stylist TMs start the conversation with “I’m getting $4,000 stipend to speak with you about Covid vaccines. Please note I am not a medical professional but I have training in how to speak convincingly about that which I know nothing about” Hmmm?
That’s astounding, and thank you for you diligence in presenting this “micro-level” information. Recently I read that they are now paying dentist’s to promote the HPV injection!! Stand strong ladies!