RAPID testing supplies are exhausted in the Swan Hill region, but locals remain “very understanding” as they retreat to the long queues at the drive-though PCR testing site.
Marraboor Pharmacy Pharmacist Zoe Lazarou said they hoped to receive a shipment of the much sought-after tests “soon”.
“Customers have been great – they have been very understanding with our supply running out, we hope to get a shipment of testing kits in soon,” she said.
Ms Lazarou said the pharmacy’s vaccination clinic had been busy, with people booking in for their booster shots, which people were now eligible for, at least four months after their second jab.
Priceline Pharmacy has experienced similar demand from customers, with Kelly Atkinson saying the store ran out of supply of their testing kits on December 27, with an order placed once their suppliers got more stock.
She admitted that when they first ran out of supply that people had been able to find tests at smaller outlying centres like Lake Charm, however their supply had now also been exhausted.
“Its clear the customers are frustrated, not so much at us, but more so at the situation which has been created due to the changing of rules,” she said.
Six million Australians will also be eligible for free RATs, as part of a deal to provide concession card holders with the testing kits.
This will include those who have a Commonwealth seniors health card, healthcare card, low income card, pension concession card, DVA Gold Card or DVA White Card.
However, shortages are still scheduled to last for at least a few more weeks, with a shipment of more than 40 million RATs, ordered by the Victorian Government, expected to arrive in coming days.
Meanwhile, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been called in to investigate price gouging of the rapid tests, after some retailers were allegedly selling single tests for $50.
The desperate hunt for rapid tests could continue for another couple of weeks, according to the president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA).
PGA national president Professor Trent Twomey said the shortage was due to pharmacies being caught by surprise by the Federal Government’s changes to the COVID-19 testing regime.
“The national shortage is due in part to the fact that the government’s pivot from PCR tests … to rapid antigen tests becoming the main one was done without warning so pharmacies could not order stock in preparation for the rush,” Mr Twomey said.
While he anticipated the next two weeks would be “bumpy”, he said stock availability would improve.
“Wholesalers have ordered tens of millions of tests and these are being fast tracked for delivery to Australia, and once here will be distributed by express services across the country.”
However, Mr Twomey said prices had risen due to the lengths wholesalers were taking to get tests to Australia as quick as possible.
“We have heard of chartered aircraft as well as express air services being utilised to get the product landed here. The extra costs are passed on through the supply and retail chains.”
