Pharmacies say they've been swamped with demand for rapid antigen Covid-19 tests by Aucklanders wanting to leave the city without a vaccine pass.
A Covid-19 antigen test Photo: 123RF
The Ministry of Health has dispatched 250,000 tests to approved sites across the country, yet some in Auckland have told RNZ they've only received a small number, or none at all, and may have to turn people away.
The tests show results in 15 minutes and are available for free today for unvaccinated travellers without any Covid-19 symptoms instead of the nasal swab.
On the listed of approved providers, one central Auckland pharmacist said by the time she shut up shop last night none of the 300 tests she ordered from the Ministry of Health last week had turned up.
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"We did get some paper resources turn up like posters, brochures and information sheets that we can give people, but not the actual test kits," she said.
That pharmacist said she had taken down people's names and numbers and made a waiting list.
"It's been widely publicised that it will be available from the 15th, but we've got nothing to offer them."
Based on the people who were ringing yesterday, she was expecting high levels of frustration from those who wanted a test.
"Most of them have expressed the urgency because they're wanting to travel out of Auckland, go see family out of Auckland. But unfortunately we can't help them at this time," she said.
Unichem Pakuranga Pharmacy co-owner Vicky Chan said 150 tests arrived at her pharmacy yesterday and she hoped there would be another opportunity to get more soon from the Ministry of Health.
Given the level of demand she had, she was not sure how long the stock would last.
"You wouldn't believe all the amount of phone calls, and through our social media and emails," she said.
Pharmacy Guild chief executive Andrew Gaudin said people wanting to travel straight away should allow plenty of time.
There were also some pharmacists still trying to get connected to the IT system for the tests - although that would not stop them carrying out the tests or getting the results, he said.
"Actually joining dots and making sure people have got the logins, have got the access and know how to use it - some of that onboarding has been right down to the wire."
Gaudin believed everyone would be connected by the end of the week.
In the meantime, he hoped some of the Covid-19 tetchiness in the community was kept at bay.
"Everyone's doing their best here. And there's respect for all of those - the unvaccinated - who want to travel. And there's respect for the pharmacy folk who are doing a great job in the community," he said.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said a cross-sector group made up of health boards and pharmacy groups had worked at pace on the rollout of rapid antigen tests.
It had made "all efforts" to ensure sufficient stocks of rapid antigen tests were available to community pharmacies to meet testing demands, it said.
The cutoff date for Auckland pharmacies to order stock in time for today was last Friday, and 150 had only opted in yesterday.
"We are also reliant on couriers who are very busy in the rush immediately prior to the Christmas period which may account for delays," it said.
The ministry has 1.5 million rapid antigen tests in its national central supply, in addition to those it has sent out.
"Further deliveries of 1.5 million per month are in place for the first half of next year."
It said 600 pharmacies have opted in provide supervised rapid antigen testing including 217 in the Auckland area.