Sofie Formica meant to return from her holidays last week but coronavirus had other plans in store and the experience has her ‘beyond frustrated’. 

Despite being triple vaccinated and otherwise healthy, the virus took her by surprise and hit hard.

“For the first time in my life, I experienced shortness of breath,” Sofie said. “That idea of taking an inhale of breath and not being able to fill your lungs.

Sofie warns using the word ‘mild’ around the Omicron variant is “incredibly subjective”, after being left bedridden for three days while infected.

“I would caution complacency and not make any assumption that that is the case at all.”

But what she really took away from the sickness was that after almost two years of staving off the virus, we’ve emerged with a lack of preparation.

“I’m beyond frustrated that we have considered everything that was coming toward us and there was still a lack of preparedness.

“For people now, if it’s five to seven days to get a result from a PCR, it’s kind of pointless.

“The fact that we can’t access any rapid antigen tests just seems to be the final straw.”

While overseas, some governments have handed out RATs for free, here, the federal government was more concerned about the private market.

“The government didn’t want to intervene in the private market. Well look where that got us.

“I don’t think we can forgive the lack of forethought with this.”

Press PLAY below to hear Sofie tell her experience 

Sofie spoke to Dr Jeremy Wellwood following her infection for advice on how other families can prepare for if they test positive.

“The good news is if you’re vaccinated, particularly if you’ve had your booster, it’s much, much less likely you’ll need to come to hospital.

“Largely, people will have viral-type symptoms: fevers and aches and pains.

“Things like Panadol and keeping your fluids up…”

Press PLAY below to hear all Dr Wellwood’s advice