Peel pharmacies have urged customers not to panic buy medication or stock up on several months' worth of prescriptions, amid fears it could lead to further shortages.
A statement by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia expressed concern for supply interruptions at both a national and local level from the impact of COVID-19 if "current demands through excessive purchasing continue."
Many local chemists have already been suffering shortages including the Mandurah Forum Priceline as they are running low on asthma puffers, children's neurofen and panadol, cough syrup, and cold and flu tablets.
Mandurah Central Pharmacy manager Louise Cant reminded consumers there was no need to over stock.
"People are still panic buying, they're asking for scripts more than a month out," Ms Cant said.
She said they had sold out of ventolin.
"If people are using preventatives properly, they shouldn't need to panic buy ventolin."
She reminded residents to keep up with their hygiene.
"Keep washing your hands, that's a far better thing to do than panic buying."
To counteract panic buying new rules were announced by federal health officials on Thursday advising community pharmacists to enforce new limits on dispensing prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
These measures include limiting paracetamol and ventolin purchases to one per customer with children's paracetamol to be sold behind the counter.
Additionally, pharmacies have been urged to limit prescriptions to one month's worth of supplies.
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The announcement was made after many patients reported being unable to get potentially life-saving medication such as ventolin for asthma sufferers.
Deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly said, "there have been reports of people buying large quantities of [paracetamol and ventolin] over the last few days.
"I recognise that people are fearful about issues, particularly those that might affect their own families, but I say again, as the Prime Minister said about panic buying, please do not buy more than you need."
