UPDATED: Where to get RATs in Cairns today
Pharmacies across Cairns begin to stock up on rapid antigen tests (RATs) with the kits in steady supply at multiple stores across the region. WHERE TO GET RATs
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LATEST: Shoppers no longer have to make the mad dash to their local chemist as pharmacies across the region begin to stock up on rapid antigen tests (RATs) with the kits in steady supply at multiple locations in Cairns.
Alive Pharmacy Warehouse posted to their Facebook page earlier today to update Cairns locals on readily available RATs across all Alive Pharmacy stores in the Far North.
Staff member at Orchid Plaza Alive Pharmacy Alison Daniels said demand for RATs has slowed down recently with not as many shoppers frequently asking for the kits.
“We stocked up on rapid tests to prepare for anymore waves but now people aren’t trying to desperately get their hands on them so we expect to have a steady flow for a while longer,” she said.
“We’ve also been able to increase our buying limit and people are now able to buy four testing kits at once, or two packs of two.”
Other pharmacies across Cairns suburbs experiencing a steady flow of RATs for the first time this year include:
– Chemist Warehouse, McLeod St.
– Discount Drugstore Earlville, Mulgrave Rd.
– Wholelife Pharmacy and Healthfoods Earlville, Barr St.
– Wholelife Pharmacy and Healthfoods Manoora, Pease St.
– Optimal Pharmacy Plus, Raintrees Shopping Centre.
– Terry White Chemmart Earlville, Stockland Cairns Shopping Centre.
FEB 2: Chemists across the Far North placed large orders with one chain expecting around 12,000 of the Covid tests to be delivered from February 2.
WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods co-owner Vince Pappalardo said stock was starting to flow easier, predicting consumers would be able to “get them from anywhere” within a week if there were no delivery delays.
“RATs right now are hard to predict, they keep changing the goalposts, but we are anticipating the delivery tomorrow,” he said.
“My bet is by the end of the week or early next week there will be a constant steady flow of stock.
“There is a lot of stock coming into Cairns over the next couple of weeks and I believe come the next week or two there is going to be plenty of stock for everyone.
“You can get them from anywhere, and we are also hoping the price will drop as well.”
WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods Pease St, WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods Barr St and Terry White Redlynch would be replenished from Wednesday.
It comes as Mr Pappalardo said consumer demand could “slowly begin to taper off” with the RATS in high supply across all chemists and the state’s Omicron peak begins to flatten.
“I’m very confident come this time next week things will be a lot better,” he said.
It comes as the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service announced it will be able to offer RATs to a wider group of essential workers from Tuesday.
CHHHS Covid Services Nursing Director Erin Howell praised staff who have been working hard to secure more tests for our region.
“From today, most of our testing facilities will be able to offer RATs to the full list of critical essential workers who have symptoms or need a RAT to return to work,” Ms Howell said.
RAPID antigen tests (RATS) stock remains limited across pharmacies in Cairns, but some still have supply and others have revealed when they are expecting more stock.
WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods co-owner Vince Pappalardo said WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods Pease St, WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods Barr St and Terry White Redlynch had completely sold out.
But two of his pharmacies Terry White Chemist Earlville and Discount Drug Store still had a small amount of stock.
“We sold out during Australia Day, up until yesterday afternoon we had stock everywhere,” he said.
“My other stores will all be waiting on the next shipment which will be on Friday.”
Alive Pharmacy Co-Owner Nick Loukas said some stores had limited stock including their Cooktown store.
“We have had big orders that have come. We are expecting more to come early next week,” he said.
Calanna Pharmacies are still waiting on a shipment and will update their Facebook page, and Chemist Warehouse will receive more at the end of the week.
EARLIER: FAR North pharmacies are slowly replenishing stocks of rapid antigen tests (RATS), easing community fears of being left high and dry.
WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods co-owner Vince Pappalardo said stock arrived on Tuesday for some of his pharmacies.
Mr Pappalardo said he received plenty of stock at Terry White Redlynch about 1.30pm on Tuesday. His other stores including WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods Pease St, WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods Barr St, Terry White Earlville were also expecting stock on Tuesday.
He said the Pease St store would receive 7000 tests alone.
“There will be plenty to go around, we are expecting a few thousand,” he said.
“Redlynch has already received them. The next stores should receive more this afternoon.”
“We have been inundated with calls. It puts a bit of pressure on the team,” he said.
“Our response is to follow our social media with updates. But we also have the issue of elderly patients that don’t have social media, we are trying to give them the best indication of when they will come,” he said.
The Concessional Access RAT program was launched across community pharmacies on Monday.
The temporary program allows eligible Commonwealth concession card holders up to 10 RATS from participating community pharmacies over a three-month period.
Mr Pappalardo said his pharmacies were participating.
“When they make an announcement, straight away people read about it and view it on TV.
The next day pharmacies are then inundated,” he said.
Mr Pappalardo said his pharmacies were receiving one big shipment a week.
Chemist Warehouse director Mario Tascone said they were also inundated on Monday in the Cairns region.
“We gave away close to 900 five packs to our concession card holders,” he said.
They sold out immediately and are expecting another delivery at the end of the week.
“By mid next week we should have enough to service both cohorts in the Cairns Region. There’s just a massive shortage of stock,” he said.
“We ask concession holders to please be patient.”
Pharmacy Guild of Australia national president Trent Twomey said 667 pharmacies across Queensland were registered in the program.
“19,000 Queenslanders received 90,000 free rapid antigen tests on Monday,” he said.
However he expects RAT supply will be staggered for some time.
“Supply will continue to be lumpy between now and Valentines Day,” he said.
“Supply is slowly increasing.”
Mr Twomey said the stores his Pharmacies received stock on Monday and sold out immediately.
“We should receive hopefully another shipment at the end of the week,” he said.
“We are getting two shipments a week, they are usually quite small and sell out quickly.”
While Calanna Pharmacies across Cairns have still struggled to receive stock over the last few months, they update social media when they do.
More Coverage
Originally published as UPDATED: Where to get RATs in Cairns today
Hung jury ends child sex abuse case against youth camp leader
A former youth worker and OAM recipient known for his work with troubled teens may face a retrial on historical child sexual abuse charges after a jury was unable to reach a verdict in his trial.
Urgent alert issued for Cairns on potential measles outbreak
An urgent health alert has been issued for Cairns following a potential outbreak in the region.