RATs, kids’ vaccines, panadol: How to get a hold of them

Children’s vaccines, masks and panadol join Rapid Antigen Tests as 2022’s toilet roll. We all want them but where do we find them? We did the leg work for you.

Supply to businesses selling Rapid Antigen Tests across the Clarence Valley is, at best, a day by day drip feed.

At its worst some businesses have none available and no idea of when they will arrive.

Pharmacist Troy Michael from Southside Pharmacy outlined the reasons for the delay.

“With the unexpected announcement from Scott Morrison and other health departments in terms of the utilisation of Rapid Antigen Tests coming out of the blue we had no opportunity to purchase up,” he said.

“The unforeseen demand that was put on us so quickly with such a small initial resource meant we were behind the eight ball.”

The pharmacy received a number of single packs, double packs and 20 packs in December but nothing since, not even for his staff.

He said Covid vaccines for 5 to 11 year-olds at the pharmacy were missing in action too.

Priceline Yamba retail manager Genelle Chan said she was crossing her fingers that the Rapid Antigen Test trickle feed they were receiving kept coming through.

“Supply is starting to trickle through at 500 every day, but they are going quickly,” Ms Chan said.

“We received 500 on Saturday and they sold like hot cakes.”

One of the popular brands on the market, Hough requires you to download an app and use a UV torch.

Ms Chan posted a supply update on the Priceline Yamba Facebook page and by the time people arrived the tests had already sold.

“They went in 45 minutes,” she said.

“Because people had lined up waiting the tests were gone by the time our Facebook followers arrived.”

Trying to meet the demand has been a real challenge.

“We have easily had a thousand calls a day with people driving from Coffs Harbour to secure them,” she said.

“So many people are waiting to get back to work or put their mind at ease for their families.”

Priceline Yamba pharmacy assistants Jorga Ryan and Caitlin Wilson have been run off their feet with RAT customers.

Yamba Soul Pattinson Chemist ordered 1000 but received 320 on Saturday and sold out within the hour to customers lined up to the back of the shop.

The chemist will have more coming in but can’t say when.

Other products like sore throat gargle, such as Betadine as well as panadol and even face masks are all out of stock.

Not surprisingly, staff at both businesses are feeling the pressure as they wait for stock to arrive, fielding phone calls and people in store.

Understaffed and busy

Testing requirements mean both stores have had reduced employee capacity.

At Priceline Yamba, they were down nine staff altogether last week.

They have employed seven new staff who are also trying to cope with the challenges.

Staffing has also been affected at Yamba Soul Pattinson Chemist with reduced numbers, and for some staff the test results have arrived after the seven-day isolation period is complete.

Ad hoc supplies

In other businesses in Grafton supply has been dramatically lower.

Southside Pharmacy Grafton’s Lauren Cowling said they didn’t have any stock.

“We haven’t had any since before Christmas,” she said.

“Then we got three lots of 20 packs.”

The situation was echoed by Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse pharmacist Rory Miller.

He said the last stock they had was on Monday January 3 when they only received 10 boxes.

“We were getting consistent supply between 100 to 150 tests every day between Christmas and New Year’s but since then we have just had the one delivery of only 10 items,” he said.

“Everybody is asking for the Rapid Antigen Tests and it is an absolutely fair question.

“It sucks that we can’t help everyone out.

“Literally every person we see or talk to is in an incredibly difficult situation.”