Hunter Covid: Chemists plea for more supply as demand for boosters increases

Hunter pharmacists say they cannot keep up with the demand for booster shots and are asking the government for help.

A Newcastle pharmacist says the federal government’s decision to move the waiting time between the second and third vaccination has put an even greater strain on his and other businesses due to a lack of dosage supply.

The surging number of Omicron cases saw a quick decision made on the eve of Christmas, slashing the booster interval from five to four months from early January.

Anthony Piggott, who owns five local Newcastle pharmacies, said it has caught many pharmacies off guard and left owners frustrated.

“It’s less than perfect,” he said.

Pharmacist Anthony Piggott says government decisions on COVID-19 booster vaccine has chemists run off their feet. Picture: Michael Cain.

“Meanwhile, we’re getting inundated with phone calls and inquiries. We can’t help the people that want them, so we’re a bit stuck.

“I’ve also got to get the resources ready for the demand. The government makes decisions like these overnight and we just have to adapt.”

Mr Piggott also believed the long-term solution of providing quicker times needed to be the overhaul of the delivery distribution system of vaccines to pharmacy by decommissioning the bespoke vaccine delivery model.

He said the whole procedure could be streamlined with what’s already set in place.

“We have an excellent logistic chain from the manufacturers through the wholesalers to the pharmacies which is extremely fast,’’ Mr Piggott said.

Chemists are finding demand is greatly outweighing supply for booster shots across the Hunter.

“It can deliver medicines within 24 hours. I have no idea why we’re not using that. The government has their own little private provider that sends you stuff three weeks later.”

Manish Bagga, owner of Bagga’s Newcastle Pharmacy, said planning went out the window as the goalposts kept getting moved.

“On Christmas Day we doubled our order and we were due for vaccinations on the seventh, only to find out this week that it’s now blown out to the 14th of January,’’ Mr Bagga said.

“We’re just a walk-in service to just make it easier for people that find it hard to get appointments, but without the stock, it makes it difficult.”

Keeping up with the skyrocketing demand for shots has seen many outlets deliver over 200 shots per day.

Losing staff due to close contact with the public has also been a drain on resources while taking into account they still have to deliver their usual non-Covid related workload.

“This time of the year is a nightmare when it comes to getting staff even without all this,’’ Mr Bagga said.

“We have to train them up but lose them for Covid testing. We lost two staff members this week. It’s been a testing time for all. We just want it to be made a bit easier.”