The year-long pandemic has caused havoc with blood donations. Some people wonder if it’s safe to give blood after being infected with the virus, or if they can give blood after receiving the vaccine. Managing editor Tami Roleff has the answers…
Our local blood bank, LifeStream, is welcoming blood donations from people who have received COVID vaccine shots, as long as they meet all the other eligibility requirements. If you have been diagnosed with having COVID-19, you are still welcome to give blood as long as you haven’t experienced any symptoms for 28 days. LifeStream asks people not to attempt to give blood if they have any symptoms of the disease: coughing, shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, extreme fatigue, a new loss of sense of taste or smell, or other unexplained symptoms in the last 14 days. People who live with, have close contact with someone diagnosed with, or suspected of having COVID-19 in the last two weeks, or who are healthcare workers caring for patients with active COVID-19 infections should not give blood for at least two weeks after symptoms have disappeared. For more information, see LStream.org.
There is no deferral period for donating blood for those who have received one, or both (in a series of two) COVID vaccine shots. As long as all other requirements for giving blood are met, those who have taken the vaccine are eligible.
Regarding having COVID-19, we ask people not to attempt to give blood if:
- They’ve had a new cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pain, a new loss of sense of taste or smell, headache, sore throat, extreme fatigue, or other unexplained symptoms in the past 14 days.
- They live with or have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
- They have been diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19, and have had any symptoms in the past 28 days.
- He/she is a healthcare worker who has directly cared for hospitalized patients with an active COVID-19 infection in the past 14 days.
- They want to get tested for COVID-19. Blood banks do NOT test for an active COVID-19 infection.
