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Got vaccinated and wish to donate blood? Here's what you must know

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Published on June 16, 2021. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

The outbreak of COVID-19 made us realise how important it is to support each other . The pandemic didn’t just alter our lifestyles, but in many cases, forced us to runaround, searching for basic amenities. Just when the medical infrastructure was getting overwhelmed across the country, common people started doing their best to support the frontline workers. From donating plasma to arranging oxygen cylinders, Good Samaritans started lending a helping hand everywhere. Donating blood is another act of kindness, but amidst this pandemic, you must be aware of some rules for the sake of safety. Especially, if you recently got vaccinated, you need to find out when you can donate blood next.

When can you donate blood after vaccination?

There was a growing concern that if a person is not allowed to donate blood after vaccination for weeks, it might lead to dry blood banks! However, the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) has allayed such fears of a possible blood shortage when it recently revised the guidelines. As per their new recommendation, the deferral period between a COVID-19 vaccine dose and blood donation day has been reduced from four weeks to two weeks. If your health allows you to donate blood, you can do it 14 days after receiving the first or second shot. 

In February, the NBTC had directed all blood banks to defer collection from donors for 28 days post vaccination, regardless of the type of vaccine. Therefore, when the vaccination program was opened to people in the 18-45 age group, health experts were concerned that the vaccination drive could lead to a deficiency in blood banks and make the task of doctors even more difficult. Since this age group constitutes many blood donors, a person not being able to donate blood for several weeks could pose a serious challenge. Also, the pandemic had made it impossible to have large blood donation camps due to restrictions on public gathering. Some state-level agencies like the Kerala State Blood Transfusion Council and Tamil Nadu State Blood Transfusion Council had launched campaigns, urging youngsters to donate blood prior to taking the jab. Now, with the revised guidelines, the situation looks more under control.

While this was happening in India, elsewhere, the Red Cross was following the Food and Drug Administration’s blood donation eligibility guidance that stated that the deferral time for donations depends on the type of vaccine a person had received. While one had to show the manufacturer’s name while coming to donate blood, in most cases, individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccine didn’t have to follow any deferral time if they were symptom-free and feeling well at the time of donation. This rule applied to blood donors who were vaccinated with a non-replicating inactivated or RNA-based vaccine manufactured by AstraZeneca, Janssen/J&J, Moderna, Novavax, or Pfizer. Those who received a live attenuated vaccine were suggested to wait for two weeks before giving blood.

Conclusion:

Donating blood not only saves lives, but it has many benefits for the emotional and physical health of the donor. So, by deciding to donate blood, you are being a good citizen of the country, especially when the whole nation is going through such a tough phase. If you have received your COVID-19 vaccination, you should also have a word with your doctor about your health before signing up to donate blood. And on the blood donation day, ensure you are carrying your vaccination certificate.

Disclaimer:  The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.