At-home rapid COVID tests in short supply

Monroe County, New York – According to pharmacies, nowadays they are seeing the highest demand yet for rapid at-home COVID-19 tests.

In Monroe County, many pharmacies don’t have tests in stock and are unsure when they are able to get more.

According to the pharmacist, Gregory Ladd, of Danwins Pharmacy in Webster, the tests are usually front and center in the store.

“Normally when we get a new shipment of COVID tests we like to stack them right here at the register. As you can see we don’t have anything to show,” said Ladd.

When they do get tests in stock, they don’t stay on the shelves for very long, he said.

“Back-to-school has made the demand increased by a lot. People going back to college often need to prove their COVID negative. Some folks just like to have them when they go back to school just in case they get sick,” said Ladd.

Both, big and small pharmacies are dealing with the shortage.

CVS and Walgreens are limiting how many rapid tests customers can buy at a time with some not having any in stock at all.

According to pharmacists, the demand to slow down is not expected anytime soon.

“[We are] checking every single day. We try and [order them] and let them know, ‘Hey. We’re still waiting,'” Ladd says. “We still want ours but haven’t had any luck as of yet, fingers crossed something’s coming soon.”

Pharmacists recommend ordering at-home kits online through Amazon or drug store websites if none can be found in your local drug store. They also suggest checking in with pharmacies daily to see if any tests have arrived in stock.