Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Apr 24: Blood collection has gone down by 50% for the past two weeks due to the second wave of coronavirus pandemic.
Doctors, blood banks and voluntary organizations are appealing to all those who are going to take vaccination to donate blood before taking the same and help to save lives.
Vaccination campaign is going to begin for people above the age of 18 from the month of May. Anyone who takes vaccination, cannot donate blood for the next 28 days according to the directions of National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC). There is a gap of 28 days between two doses of vaccine. This means that a person who takes vaccination cannot donate blood for the next 56 days. There is a possibility of extreme blood shortage in the state due to the vaccination campaign.
More than 80% of the blood donors are above the age of 18. If the vaccination of this group starts next month, it will be a great challenge to keep the blood in stock as per the information provided by the chiefs of blood banks.
Many blood banks of various districts of the state do not even have one unit of blood in stock. Patients who are in dire need of blood, white blood cells and platelets are facing a tough time.
Health department officials said that sufficient precautionary measures are taken in blood banks and hospitals and there is no need for the public to get scared of getting Covid infection if they visit hospitals or blood banks for donating blood. In addition, the officials also said that organizations can hold blood donation camps on a small scale after obtaining permission from the health department.
S Naganna, chairman of Indian Red Cross Society, Karnataka branch says, "Due to Covid and curfew, blood donation camps are not being held for the past one year. In addition, blood donors are also not able to donate blood due to restrictions and also fear of contracting Covid. Anyone who has taken vaccination cannot donate blood for 56 days. All public above the age of 18, who have social concern should donate blood first and then take vaccination."