Goya Dmytryshchak
An Altona pharmacist is prioritising flu vaccines for high-risk and local patients amid coronavirus panic and abusive customers.
The move comes as some Victorian pharmacists report being attacked and receiving death threats because of restrictions on medication purchases.
Simon Jiao, the owner of Chemist Discount Centre Altona, said people were “sheer panicking” with 400 flu shots being booked in one day.
“I had people coming from St Albans and people coming here from Werribee because they couldn’t get any in their own suburbs,” he said.
“We will be prioritising children, elderly and patients with chronic conditions, and our local patients, in that order.
“People from Altona, maybe Altona Meadows, but not the other people coming from Williamstown or St Albans … because it’s not fair for our locals.”
Mr Jiao said some customers, who were not local, had been abusive over the rationing of medication such as Ventolin.
“They will throw a fit, they will throw a tantrum, and sometimes my staff, myself, are the frontline to cop it,” he said.
He said there was high demand for many drugs including hydroxychloroquine or Plaquenil, usually used to treat rheumatoid arthritis but now being stockpiled after rumours that it could be used for coronavirus.
Mr Jiao said there was enough medication for everybody and no need to panic, with the pharmacy encouraging home delivery.
“It’s a lot safer for my staff and it’s a lot safer for the patient as well,” Mr Jiao said.
