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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Anne Davies

Rapid antigen tests: Australian consumers miss out as government and big business snap up supplies

Australia Trent Twomey Greg Hunt Pharmacy Guild
No Covid rapid test signs displayed in Melbourne
Requests for big orders of rapid antigen tests from state and federal governments have been hard for suppliers to ignore, says Prof Trent Twomey from the Pharmacy Guild Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

The shortage of rapid antigen tests for consumers is being exacerbated by state and federal governments and large corporates placing mammoth orders for the kits, causing stock to be diverted from online retailers and pharmacies.

Australia is in the middle of a huge Omicron wave after state and federal governments pivoted from a policy of Covid suppression to one of “living with the virus”, causing a surge in demand for rapid antigen testing kits.

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