By Derek Wilson
Marinscope
As COVID-19 concerns relax, hospitals are performing more elective — but needed — surgeries that patients might have been putting off for the past year. Any surgery requires blood and so an urgent call is going out to the community for donors.
The American Red Cross and Vitalant are two agencies recruiting donors in the North Bay, with the drive ramping up for the summer as people leave town, meaning fewer available donors.
Vitalant has less than a needed four-day supply of most blood types to meet patient needs at a moment’s notice. Type O blood is below a two-day supply. Type O is what’s often used in trauma situations, especially type O negative, because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type in an emergency room setting.
Blood donations fell more than 4,000 short of the need in May, while the need for blood has increased. Blood drive cancellations forced by COVID-19 challenges continue to affect donation rates. In fact, anticipated uncollected donations from business-hosted blood drive cancellations reached a four-month high of more than 6,200 blood donations in June.
“That’s why it’s so important to patient care for generous donors to make an appointment now to give in the coming days or weeks at a donation center or another community blood drive,” said Fred McFadden, San Francisco Bay Area Regional Director for Vitalant.
“A drop in donations over any period of time is concerning, but especially right now when the supply is already low,” said Ralph Vassallo, MD, Vitalant’s chief medical and scientific officer. “Blood and platelet donations are needed now and throughout the summer to prevent delays in lifesaving patient care.”
Officials say there is no waiting period to donate blood after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Nor is there any danger to donors, they say.
The American Red Cross is testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies. These results may provide valuable insight into a donor’s potential past exposure to this coronavirus or an antibody response developed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Only those feeling healthy and well should present to donate and appointments are strongly encouraged. Test results will be available to donors via the American Red Cross Donor App or at www.redcrossblood.org within one to two weeks.
To learn more and schedule an appointment to donate, visit www.vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Those who received a Food and Drug Administration authorized COVID-19 vaccine can give blood immediately if other eligibility requirements are met.
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