Concern Grows Over Confusion About Blood Donation Eligibility

Seattle WA

05 April, 2021

5:54 PM

Description

Bloodworks Northwest Issues Emergency Appeal - Donors Can Donate Immediately After Vaccine. Type O Positive Now at Emergency Levels. Sign-up to donate HERE With Type O Positive blood supplies hovering at emergency low levels and transfusions at 110% of normal average indicating high patient need, Bloodworks Northwest is making an urgent call for blood donors to book appointments in April. This shortage has left our community's blood supply below the operational level needed to meet patient needs. Adding to this pressure is concern that some donors may be still confused about whether they can donate blood soon after receiving their COVID-19 vaccination, leading them to delay donations unnecessarily. For the care and safety of our community, Bloodworks Northwest is reminding the community that donating blood is a critical activity and there is no reason to delay donating after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Bloodworks Northwest urges community members of all blood types to rush to book appointments at Donor Centers and Pop-Up Blood Drives in April. Over 500 donations are needed NOW. Confusion over donation eligibility after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine may be prompting donors to postpone their appointments. There is no wait to donate if you receive the Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, Novovax or AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. • Demand in need for Type O positive blood has hit local inventory especially hard, resulting in an emergency, one-day supply of the most common blood type. • Type O negative blood is considered the universal blood type that can be transfused to any patient suffering from trauma when they are rushed to a hospital with no time to type that person's blood. When there is a shortage of Type O+ blood it creates a ripple effect depleting Type O negative. It takes 1,000 donor registrations every day to maintain an operational blood supply in Western Washington and Oregon allowing our community to respond to routine needs for blood and emergencies.• Blood donations help trauma patients and also help those with cancer, premature babies, surgery patients, and others who cannot live without the support of volunteer blood donors.• Blood donations is a safe and essential action during the pandemic. Appointments and masks are required. In accordance with current social distancing guidelines, no walk-ins, guests, or people under age 16 are permitted onsite. Bloodworks has posted information addressing questions and concerns for blood donors at bloodworksnw.org/coronavirus.Donations with Bloodworks provide 95% of the lifesaving blood supply to Pacific Northwest hospitals. It takes about an hour to give blood from check-in to post-donation cookie. Information about who can donate and where, is available at www.bloodworksnw.org.Additional Resources: For the latest information on COVID-19 please visit the CDC website, Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 main page, and Oregon Health Authority.Bloodworks Donor Centers andPop-Up Centers:Appointments and information at BloodworksNW.org or 800-398-7888. See our list of Donor Centers and Pop-Up locations. Sign up to donate today at Bloodworks NW