Blood Banks In Need Of Blood Donors Amid Pandemic; No Longer In Need Of Plasma From COVID Survivors
CHICAGO (CBS)-- Most blood banks in the U.S. are in need of donors, since the pandemic has shut down many of their drives.
The Red Cross says, with vaccination numbers going up, blood banks are starting to move away from collecting plasma from COVID survivors. But the Red Cross also said it will go on testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies through at least June of this year.
Nope! Donating blood after getting a #COVIDVaccine won't reduce your protection from the virus. These vaccines were created to generate an immune response, which isn't impacted by donating blood. pic.twitter.com/2Iopr6FsPp
— American Red Cross (@RedCross) April 22, 2021
Some early clinical trials have shown the plasma doesn't help much with COVID-19, and banks say they already have plenty.
A push is underway to get healthy people to donate blood.