Red Cross: Blood and Plasma Donations Crucial to COVID-19 Fight

The American Red Cross is calling for blood and plasma donors to help fill critical blood product needs. While the winter months of the year are typically slower for donation, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for blood products.

January Is National Blood Donor Month

Winter illnesses, holidays, and inclement weather are all factors that lead to low blood donations during the colder months of the year, Baia Lasky, MD, a medical director for the American Red Cross, tells Verywell.

“We’re hoping people understand that blood is an essential part of the healthcare process,” Lasky says. “People undergoing cancer therapies, trauma victims, and babies need blood.”

Blood products are also needed for surgeries, chronic conditions such as sickle cell anemia, and blood loss caused by internal bleeding.

Lasky says that blood collection rates have been even lower this year because of COVID-19. The pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of tens of thousands of blood drives, and a loss of over a million units of blood nationwide.

Convalescent Plasma for COVID-19 Patients

The COVID-fighting antibodies in the blood plasma of people who have recovered from the virus (known as convalescent plasma) can be given to current COVID-19 patients to help them recover more quickly.

Lasky encourages anyone who has recovered from COVID-19 to contact the Red Cross about convalescent plasma donation.

A donor can give plasma once every seven days for a total of eight times. Individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 but did not become ill may also be potential convalescent plasma donors.

“We are performing antibody testing on all donations, so if we find that someone has been exposed to COVID-19 and has the antibodies, we can transform their plasma,” Lasky says. “So far, we have had 45,000 sign up to donate convalescent plasma.”

Still, the need for convalescent plasma is urgent—and growing. “The distributions this last month have exceeded any other month of the pandemic, and the demand is outpacing the supply,” Lasky says, noting that the Red Cross has already distributed 125,000 units of convalescent plasma since the pandemic began.

Is Blood Donation Safe During COVID-19?

Lasky assures potential blood donors that the American Red Cross follows all safety recommendations to protect donors and staff from COVID-19, including health and temperature screening for staff and donors, social distancing, a mask requirement for all individuals, disinfecting equipment between donors, and frequent cleaning of high-touch areas.

Can I Donate If I Have Received the COVID Vaccine?

For people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine, the Red Cross follows the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) guidelines for blood donation eligibility.

Blood donation deferral times vary depending on the type of vaccine received:

• There is no deferral time for eligible blood donors who received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
• Eligible blood donors who received the AstraZeneca or Janssen/J&J via clinical trial must wait two weeks before giving blood.
• Eligible blood donors who do not know what type of COVID-19 vaccine they received must wait four weeks before giving blood.
• Individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccine are not eligible to donate convalescent plasma.

Teaming Up with the NFL

The National Football League (NFL) is sponsoring incentives to raise awareness and encourage people to donate. Any donor who gives blood or plasma at the Red Cross in January will have a chance to win two tickets to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles, California, on February 6, 2022.

“We are so grateful for all of the donors that have helped support our patients throughout the pandemic,” Lasky says, adding that blood donation is essential all through the year. “The need is always ongoing.”

For more information, including eligibility requirements to donate, donation sites, and registering to donate, visit the Red Cross website. The information is also available in Spanish.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.