Fact Check- Is Red Cross accepting plasma from people vaccinated against COVID-19?

Reuters ^ | May 2021 | Reuters Fact Check

[SeekAndFind]

The American Red Cross confirmed to Reuters that they are allowing people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine to donate plasma (the liquid component in blood), contrary to claims on social media that this plasma is not being accepted because the vaccine is “so untested”.

The confusion may have arisen over the Red Cross’ policy on convalescent plasma, meaning plasma that has COVID-19 antibodies after recent infection and can be used as a treatment for COVID-19 infection. The American Red Cross’ current policy is to only accept convalescent plasma donations from people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have not had the vaccine. Although, if plasma donated by people vaccinated against COVID-19 has a high-level of COVID-19 antibodies it may be used as convalescent plasma.

The posts (here) say “The Red Cross won’t accept plasma donations from people who have had the Covid vaccine. You’re willing to put something in your body that is so untested that the FDA and Red Cross don’t know if you can donate Plasma, yet me not wanting to take it makes me irresponsible?” This appears to have come from a tweet, originally viewable here .

Some posts ( here ) show the full tweet which includes a screenshot of a genuine page on the American Red Cross website saying people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine cannot donate convalescent plasma here .

Plasma – not convalescent plasma – can, however, be donated to the Red Cross by vaccinated individuals (here ).

PLASMA DONATION

Jenelle Eli, Director of International Communications for American Red Cross told Reuters via email that people who are eligible to give plasma donations can do so if they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. “This applies to all COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the U.S. ”

[GeorgiaDawg32]

That’s something I didn’t think of.

I refuse to get the shot and will not wear a mask. Of course, I live in the free state of Florida.

That said, if something happens and I need a transfusion, do I get the shot by proxy if I need a transfusion or is there a way I can specify I want unvaccinated blood?

[SeekAndFind]

PLASMA vs COVALESCENT PLASMA

Eli stressed the difference between plasma and convalescent plasma. While plasma-only donations are used to help treat bleeding disorders, severe liver disease, clotting factor deficiencies and blood loss following severe trauma or surgeries, convalescent plasma uses blood from people who have recovered from an illness to help others who are actively fighting that illness.

Blood plasma donated by people who have recovered from COVID-19 infection usually has high levels of COVID-19 antibodies. This convalescent plasma can be given to people with COVID-19 to improve their ability to fight the virus ( here , here , here , here ). Convalescent plasma therapy has emergency authorization by the FDA to treat COVID-19 (here).

As some of the social media posts show, the American Red Cross is indeed currently not accepting convalescent plasma donations from those vaccinated against COVID-19 ( here ). Eli told Reuters, “Convalescent plasma collected by the Red Cross can only come from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 and have not received a COVID-19 vaccine.”

Eli did add that seeing as the Red Cross is testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies, plasma from routine donations that have a high level of these antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma.

[SeekAndFind]

See Post #3

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It says in the Reuters article: The Red Cross is evaluating the “feasibility” and “timeline” of implementing new February 2021 guidance from the FDA, which says ( here ) that COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be collected from people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have had COVID-19 in the past six months and received the vaccine after they were diagnosed with COVID-19.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

"convalescent plasma should not be collected from people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have had COVID-19 in the past six months and received the vaccine after they were diagnosed with COVID-19.

I repeat my question. If I want unvaccinated blood, can I specifiy it.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: If I want unvaccinated blood, can I specifiy

I’m sure you can SPECIFY it. Whether it will be granted in practice, I’m not certain.

I’m not sure if the Red Cross sorts and separates according to vaccinated and unvaccinated.

[AZJeep]

I have had the vaccine and soon after I went to donate blood. No problem! They actually asked which vaccine I have gotten.
As a bonus, they give you free Covid antibody test. Mine come out positive (since I had the vaccine), but they then did some other test which came up negative.
Just like it was advertised, I had been vaccinated and I never had any Covid.
If blood is OK, then, the plasma should be too!
Anyway, most adult people are vaccinated. If they could not use blood (plasma) from vaccinated people, they would run out of it VERY soon!

[Hot Tabasco]

I used to organize the annual blood drives at my auto parts plant in Detroit and used to believe the Red Cross was an altruistic organization until I discovered the hundreds of pints each drive collected was ultimately SOLD to hospitals by the Red Cross.......

[grey_whiskers]

From Japan Red Cross website at 3/31/21 and 4/13/21:

Those who have received vaccinations within a certain period of time.

Those who have received inactivated vaccines for influenza, Japanese encephalitis, cholera, hepatitis A, pneumococcus, pertussis, tetanus, etc. and toxoids are not allowed to donate blood for 24 hours after vaccination.

Those who have received hepatitis B vaccine are not allowed to donate blood for 2 weeks after vaccination, those who have received anti-HBs human immunoglobulin alone or in combination are not allowed to donate blood for 6 months after administration, and those who have received rabies vaccine (after being bitten by an animal) are not allowed to donate blood for 1 year after vaccination.

Those who have been vaccinated against mumps, rubella, BCG, and other weakly poisonous live vaccines are not allowed to donate blood for 4 weeks after vaccination, those who have been vaccinated against smallpox are not allowed to donate blood for 2 months after vaccination, and those who have been vaccinated against tetanus, snake venom, gas vesicles, and botulism are not allowed to donate blood for 3 months after administration.

Those who have been vaccinated against new coronaviruses are not allowed to donate blood for the time being.

If you have had a specific disease If you are sick on the day of the donation, taking medication, or have a fever If you have or are suspected of having AIDS, hepatitis, or other viruses If you are pregnant or nursing If you have had a blood transfusion or organ transplant If you have had a piercing within the past 6 months. If you have had a mouse implant within the past 6 months. If you have a trauma. If you have been bitten by an animal or a person. Those who have received vaccinations within a certain period of time. Those who have received dental treatment (including tartar removal) that involves bleeding. Those who have traveled or lived abroad. Those who have or are suspected of having Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

一定期間内に予防接種を受けた方

一定期間内に予防接種を受けた方

インフルエンザ、日本脳炎、コレラ、A型肝炎、肺炎球菌、百日ぜき、破傷風等の不活化ワクチンおよびトキソイドの接種を受けた方は、接種後24時間の献血をご遠慮いただいています。

B型肝炎ワクチンの接種を受けた方は接種後2週間、抗HBs人免疫グロブリンを単独または併用した方については投与後6カ月間、狂犬病ワクチン（動物にかまれた後）を接種された方は接種後1年間の献血をご遠慮いただいています。

おたふくかぜ、風疹、BCG等の弱毒生ワクチンの接種を受けた方は、接種後4週間、天然痘ワクチンの接種後は2カ月間、破傷風、蛇毒、ガスえそ、ボツリヌスの抗血清の投与を受けた方は投与後3カ月の献血をご遠慮いただいています。

新型コロナウイルスのワクチンを接種された方は、当面の間、献血をご遠慮いただいています。

[Tennessee Nana]

WOW

The uncertainty and danger to our health in this country just keeps getting worse and worse...

We better not ever need blood for a prolonged surgery or be in a bad car accident...

If you like your own DNA-altering-trash-free blood, keep that blood...

[metmom]

My understanding is that if you are facing surgery that may require blood, you can donate to yourself in advance.

Otherwise, I don’t know if there’s anything else you can do about it.

[roving]

I don’t want any vaccinated blood put in me. I’m thinking donating blood for myself might be a good idea

[SgtHooper]

OMG!

[BusterDog]

Reuters fact checked their own head fake.

[mistfree]

So what they’re saying is that people who have had the disease have antibodies. They’re suggesting that people who have had the jab either don’t have the antibodies or have such a low level that they cannot be used to treat someone with the disease. Hmmm

[thecodont]

I’m not sure if the Red Cross sorts and separates according to vaccinated and unvaccinated.

It's one of their screening questions.

[SeekAndFind]

Don’t look at me, I just report what the Red Cross said.

[lizma2]

" those who have been vaccinated against tetanus, snake venom, gas vesicles, and botulism are not allowed to donate blood for 3 months after administration."

Knew a women who after a recently diagnosis of breast cancer was bit by a copperhead while gardening. Cured her cancer.

Never knew there was a vaccine for snake bites.

[grey_whiskers]

Sloppy writing is my guess. Anti-venom, most likely.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_antivenom