The Red Cross Accepts Plasma From People Vaccinated Against COVID
The Claim
The American Red Cross will not accept blood plasma donations from people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, because the vaccines wipe out the body's natural antibodies.
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Emerging story
A claim has been circulating on social media this month that the American Red Cross does not accept donations of blood plasma from people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. One circulating meme says, “The American Red Cross states you cannot donate Blood Plasma if you’ve had the vaccine because the vaccine wipes out the body’s natural antibodies.” The statement is paired with a screengrab of a newscast that appears to confirm the claim.
Misbar’s Analysis
According to the Red Cross along with other experts, this claim is false. People who have received a COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to give blood, platelets, or plasma, and in most cases, there is no required wait time between receiving a vaccine and giving a donation. Vaccines do not wipe out the body’s natural antibodies, rather, they help stimulate antibodies to help attack infections.
Posts spreading this claim link to a brief soundbite from a television news report, which specifically addresses convalescent plasma. This refers to blood donated by people who have recovered from COVID, which can be given to people with the virus to help boost their ability to fight it. “The Red Cross says anyone who has received their COVID-19 vaccine cannot donate convalescent plasma to help other COVID-19 patients in hospitals,” the report states. “That plasma is made up of antibodies from people who have recovered from the virus, but the vaccine wipes out those antibodies making the convalescent plasma ineffective in treating other COVID-19 patients.” This statement is largely inaccurate and has been misinterpreted. The Red Cross says that they only stopped accepting specific convalescent plasma donations because of declining demand from hospitals.
All blood donations are put through strict and rigorous testing to ensure that no infectious diseases get into the national blood supply. The Red Cross tests all blood donations for COVID antibodies. If plasma from routine blood donations tests positive for high levels of antibodies, it may be used for the future needs of COVID patients.
