When will RATs become available for the everyday Aussie?

The Rapid Antigen Test rollout has been called subpar, with access to the tests limited, the elusive tests are inaccessible to most Australians right now. This is worrying news to those who need them. Australian’s want security. Aussie’s want to know that they’ll be able to test if they develop symptoms, so that they don’t endanger the health, nor lives of those they love.

With Victoria receiving a massive three million strong shipment of RATs to be delivered directly to essential health, age, disability and emergency care workers this week, the question looming on everyone’s lips is – when can I get one?

Implication of lack of RATs? Childcare worker exposed a room full of small kids last Wednesday. PCR test Thursday morning. Positive result received Monday. If worker had access to a RAT Thurs all those kids would have avoided seeing grandparents on weekend. See how this works?!

— Catherine (Rollison) Williams (@catrollison) January 11, 2022

And I have no access to RAT’s

— Not a quiet Australian (@the_Debstar_57) January 15, 2022

Well, speaking to Sky News on Tuesday, January 18, Pharmacy Guild president Trent Twomey shared that we can expect RATs to be back on shelves next week, however, there’s a catch.

Twomey shared that from next week, RAT kits will be available across Australia, however, those will be prioritised for those who are able to claim the 10 free RATs as concession cardholders. Twomey warned that stocks won’t be plentiful until at least mid-February, saying:

“We are seeing supplies start to ramp up after Australia Day, but they’re not going to normalise until around Valentine’s Day.”

Twomey then went on to further criticise the Federal Government’s lacklustre RAT rollout, saying: “We should have foreseen that we were going to have to relax restrictions and everyone in Australia was going to get Covid-19.” Twomey also shared that stockists of RATs should have been given “at least” three weeks notice of the increased demand for RATs, so they could be ready to supply them to the public, too.

“We should have foreseen that we were going to have to relax restrictions and everyone in Australia was going to get Covid-19,” he said.

“If everyone in Australia was going to get Covid, then everyone in Australia is going to want to get tested not just once, but multiple times.

“If we had just been given at least three weeks notice ahead … We could have got enough.”