RAPID antigen tests are flying off the shelves and pharmacies reported they were waiting on more stock to start arriving from today, as Mildura COVID-19 case numbers rose to record levels yesterday.
Pharmacies contacted by Sunraysia Daily said current supplies of rapid antigen tests had sold out.
The soaring demand for tests came as Mildura recorded 53 positive cases yesterday, its highest ever daily figure, with a total of 179 active cases in the region.
Priceline and Chemist Warehouse expected more antigen test stock on Thursday, and myChemist Mildura hoped to have more tests by lunchtime Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Terry White pharmacist Wai Mun Loh said they were receiving phone calls “by the minute” requesting tests.
“There has been a lot of frustrated patients who wanted to get tests as someone in their family tested positive,” Ms Loh said.
She said it was taking about two days for rapid antigen tests to dispatch from warehouses in Melbourne, and with back orders needing to be filled, arrival times were variable.
She is expecting more stock to arrive by Thursday or Friday. Ms Loh said her staff had been pointing customers to whichever retailer had tests available.
“We are getting phone calls by the minute and we’re letting everyone know that Coles has it and to go grab some.”
Coles had been selling two- and five-pack rapid antigen tests, but sold out by lunchtime on Tuesday.
While a couple of brands had been available, Ms Loh said they were now trying to source whichever rapid test was available.
She had not as yet noticed any issues with the price of stock.
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.”
As logistical issues affect supply, Chemist Warehouse Director Mario Tascone called for the federal treasurer John Frydenberg to remove the GST from rapid antigen tests.
Speaking to 2GB radio in Sydney, Mr Tascone said a pack of five “didn’t go too far” and called on the treasurer to remove the GST to reduce the price of tests.
