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. ”

[lizma2]

Actually there is a rattlesnake venom vaccine for dogs.

Also there is some research looking into snake venom’s possible role against the CCP virus.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210114/A-snake-venom-enzyme-shows-anti-SARS-CoV-2-activity-in-vitro.aspx

[WildHighlander57]

https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/coronavirus—covid-19—and-blood-donation.html

“COVID-19 Vaccine and Convalescent Plasma Donor Eligibility Information

The Red Cross discontinued dedicated COVID-19 convalescent plasma donations on March 26 due to declining hospital demand and sufficient industry supply.

The FDA revised its convalescent plasma donor eligibility guidance on February 11 specifically to ensure that convalescent plasma donors have sufficient levels of antibodies as a result of their illness or immune response to a COVID-19 infection versus just the vaccine. The FDA allows people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine to donate dedicated COVID-19 convalescent plasma within six months of their infection of the virus.

While the Red Cross is no longer collecting dedicated convalescent plasma donations, the Red Cross tests all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies. Plasma from routine blood and platelet donations that test positive for high-levels of antibodies, and meets other requirements, may be used as convalescent plasma to meet potential future needs of COVID-19 patients.

One of the Red Cross requirements for plasma from routine blood and platelet donations that test positive for high-levels of antibodies to be used as convalescent plasma is that it must be from a donor that has not received a COVID-19 vaccine. This is to ensure that antibodies collected from donors have sufficient antibodies directly related to their immune response to a COVID-19 infection and not just the vaccine, as antibodies from an infection and antibodies from a vaccine are not the same.”