The holiday period can be a challenging time at blood donation facilities. Add in the conditions associated with the current pandemic and the situation becomes even tougher.
Kentucky Blood Center Vice President for External Relations Mandy Brajuha says currently there is an increasing need for convalescent plasma as well. “And we’re drawing this plasma off of recovered COVID patients, and we’ve been working on this since March 29th, two days after the FDA approved its emergency use. While we’re seeing a huge outpouring of people, coming to us wanting to donate the plasma, we can’t keep up with what the hospitals are demanding right now,” said Brajuha.
Brajuha said it appears success with that treatment for COVID patients is what’s driving usage up. She noted the plasma donation process takes about an hour and enough plasma can be drawn off each donor for about four patient doses. Brajuha added it seems usage has ticked up every month since the end of the summer.
Brajuha said the transition to online education for many schools this fall has greatly affected the blood mobile schedule. Where during a typical fall some three to four thousand blood donations come from high school drives, Brajuha said that number is at 60 this year. Blood Centers are located in Lexington, Louisville, Pikeville, and Somerset.
Here's more with Kentucky Blood Center's Mandy Brajuha:
If you appreciate access to this important content during this global pandemic, please help us continue to provide public service journalism and information to Central and Eastern Kentucky communities. Please make your contribution to WEKU today.
