It’s a tweet now deleted… but which had time to be shared several thousand times. In a message published on January 22 on Twitter, actress Véronique Genest relayed another tweet: “The Red Cross informs that plasma donations from vax (sic) are now refused”.
The actress then asked this question: “So. Vaccinated can’t donate blood… curious, why?”
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The French Blood Establishment (EFS) quickly challenged this statement by posting a series of messages on this same social network.
Hello, this is false, blood donation is an anonymous and voluntary act and it is not necessary to be vaccinated to donate blood. We welcome all donors able to give, vaccinated and unvaccinated. Thank you, Ornella for the EFS
– French Blood Establishment (@EFS_dondesang) January 3, 2022
Contacted, the EFS confirms that both vaccinated and non-vaccinated can indeed donate blood at any time. Whether it is a donation of blood, platelets or plasma, the vaccination status is of no importance, as indicated elsewhere his website. The EFS also recalls that neither the health pass nor the vaccination pass are required at the entrance to the collection points. “We welcome all donors in compliance with barrier gestures, including wearing a mask, which remains compulsory”, recalls the French Blood Establishment.
Blood donation should only be delayed if you have tested positive for Covid-19. It becomes possible 14 days after the positive test. If you haven’t been tested but think you’ve contracted the virus, you can donate blood 14 days after your symptoms end.
There are many vaccines that prevent giving blood immediately. For BCG, yellow fever or measles for example, it is necessary to wait four weeks before being able to donate blood. The EFS explains that these are live attenuated vaccines. “As with vaccines against Covid, which do not contain live virus capable of replicating and do not present a risk to recipients of blood products, there is no time limit for inactivated vaccines (including that against flu, tetanus, whooping cough, polio…)”, details the EFS. In the latter cases, blood donation is therefore possible immediately after vaccination.
As the EFS also explains in other tweets, and taking up explanations from our colleagues from the factual AFP, the video shared by Véronique Genest and other Internet users absolutely does not allow us to affirm that the donation Blood testing is prohibited for vaccinees in other countries. This video presented as an American video actually refers to the donation of convalescent plasma.
Researchers had a moment of hope that the plasma of people cured of Covid-19 could make it possible to treat other patients with Covid. This video only indicates that this is not the case. However, the plasma of both vaccinated and non-vaccinated can be used for many other patients, in particular hemophiliacs, severe burn victims or even patients with certain rare diseases.
Everything is explained in this article: https://t.co/71ctOmCKbn This information dates from last May and it concerned the collection of plasma from covid convalescents in the United States as part of clinical trials. So it was a very specific case. 1/2
– French Blood Establishment (@EFS_Sante) January 24, 2022
In summary, vaccinated or not against Covid-19, your blood is welcome. The EFS currently has 80,000 bags of red blood cells in stock, whereas 100,000 would be needed in reserve to guarantee all the needs of all the hospitals over a fortnight.