RATs were in short supply right up until the end of January, with pharmacies and supermarkets forced to hang signs indicating the unavailability of the tests.
Only a month later, shelves are filled with RATs and pharmacies are promoting the fact that concession card holders should be “stocking up” while the Federal Government’s offer of free RATs is still valid.
Kathy Kostoglou, who operates Echuca Amcal Pharmacy and Echuca Priceline with husband Con, said now was a good opportunity to “stock up”.
“In January there were none around for anybody,” Mrs Kostoglou said.
“The government informed us to source our own, so we were able to honour the offer of free RATs to concession card holders.”
Both Kostoglou pharmacies are also offering booster shots of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine.
“The RATs are important for peope to be able to keep the wider community safe, but everyone should be making sure they are getting the boosters,” Mrs Kostoglou said.
At the Priceline and Amcal pharmacies in Echuca, no appointments are necessary for booster shots from Monday to Friday.
Mrs Kostoglou said the long shelf life of the RATs made them an ideal purchase for people planning to travel or those who had expansive contact with the general public.
“They last for at least two years. We have heaps and I can get more,” she said.
Concession card holders are entitled to one pack of five tests every month.
“Our staff can help them out in describing how to use them. They are just handy to keep at home,” she said.
“We’ve had them three or four weeks now and would hate to see people miss out.
“People should get in before the government shuts down the offer.”
Mrs Kostoglou said the pharmacies were also happy to provide tests to businesses.
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