By Jamie Salter
Berwick pharmacists are currently experiencing a high demand for rapid antigen tests but are unable to obtain the sought after kits from their wholesalers.
Rapid antigen tests are a faster way to test for COVID-19 than traditional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
Although the rapid tests are now available to purchase at participating pharmacies, supermarkets, and other retail outlets, many locations are facing a supply shortage.
“We have orders in place for rapid antigen tests but these orders won’t arrive until stock arrives at our suppliers,” Berwick Pharmacy said in a recent statement.
“And vaccinations are also subject to our pharmacy receiving stock via the official channels.
“We will post updates on Rapid Antigen Tests and vaccine availability on our Facebook page.”
A big concern for local pharmacists has been whether the Federal Government would provide the rapid antigen tests free of charge.
But on Monday 3 January, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said rapid antigen tests would not be made free.
“We’ve invested hundreds of billions of dollars getting Australia through this crisis. But we’re now in a stage of the pandemic where you can’t just make everything free because, when someone tells you they want to make something free, someone’s always going to pay for it and it’s going to be you,” Mr Morrison said on Channel Seven’s Sunrise program.
