Gold Coast pharmacists warn rapid antigen test scarcity to continue, with changes to Covid booster date from January 31
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for residents desperate to get their hands on rapid antigen tests. WHEN THEY WILL ARRIVE.
Gold Coast
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RAPID antigen tests will remain in scarce supply across the Gold Coast for the next two weeks, warns Gold Coast pharmacist Amanda Seeto.
Ms Seeto is the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Queensland branch vice president and partner of Good Price Pharmacy in Ashmore.
“We will have good flow of supply within the next fortnight, but until then it’s a matter of luck whether a pharmacy has any,” she said.
From January 24, pharmacists are expecting to receive their supply of RAT tests for concession card holders. Under the program, eligible people are entitled to five free tests in one single supply per month, with a maximum of 10 free tests in the three-month program period.
WHERE EVERY GOLD COAST COVID-19 CASE IS LOCATED
Ms Seeto said for those who were not eligible, “the worried well”, would be able to buy RAT tests subject to availability. They’re likely to be priced from $15 a test, but could be more depending on “logistics”.
“Pharmacists are really at the mercy of manufacturers’ supply and if people want it sooner this may cost more, it’s a matter of economics.”
Residents who are feeling unwell are being urged to avoid their local chemist to reduce the risk of infecting others, with Ms Seeto suggesting those with Covid symptoms attend PCR testing facilities.
“Please don’t come into your pharmacy, we’re here for the worried well, not for those who are genuinely sick with respiratory symptoms,” she said.
Those who test positive to Covid must quarantine for seven days from the date they were tested. If they have no symptoms, they must have a RAT test (or PCR if RAT unavailable) on day six and can leave quarantine on day seven if they have a negative result. If they have symptoms they must get a PCR test and can leave quarantine at seven days if they have a negative result.
For those wanting to get a booster at a pharmacy, Ms Seeto said findapharmacy.com.au was the best place to search. If it’s been four months since a person’s second Covid jab they are eligible for a booster, from January 31 the timeframe will be just three months.
In regards to Pfizer vaccines for children, she said pharmacists were at the mercy of government supplies, but that they would filter through to the Gold Coast within weeks.
“Once we get doses we’re opening up appointments, so parents should check daily,” she said.
“We have got 100 doses to start off but this will go quickly and we’ve already ordered more. “But we want to remind our customers that we’re administering vaccines in addition to business as usual.”
For those too scared to attend a pharmacy to collect medicines, Ms Seeto said most pharmacies could deliver, so “please don’t go without”.
“Whether it’s in regards to vaccines, RAT or general inquiries, please be kind and patient to staff. Like all other industries we too are suffering critical staff shortages.”
Originally published as Gold Coast pharmacists warn rapid antigen test scarcity to continue, with changes to Covid booster date from January 31
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