Redness Or Swelling At The Injection Site
Anytime you pierce the skin and put something into the body it can cause a topical reaction, says Dr. Adalja. This is just a sign that your immune system is activating.
But this redness and swelling where you get your shot is a common side effect that only typically lasts a few days. Itll go away on its own, but if its really bugging you, you can take ibuprofen or acetominophen .
What Happens When You Give Blood
You might be wondering how blood donation works at an Australian Red Cross Blood Service donor centre. For donors, it involves a whole lot of doing nothing.
How long does it take?
The blood donation itself takes between 5 and 15 minutes, with the whole appointment taking 1 hour. Plasma or platelets donation takes 45 minutes, with the whole appointment taking 1.5 hours.
Welcome
When you arrive at the donor centre, you’ll be greeted warmly by a reception staff member and your ID will be checked. You’ll be asked to complete a confidential donor questionnaire.
Interview
A trained staff member will discuss your questionnaire answers with you and ask further questions to check that you’re fine to donate. You’ll have a ‘finger prick’ test to check your level of haemoglobin and your blood pressure will be tested.
Donation
You’ll relax on a comfy chair or couch while you donate. You can read, chat with staff members or watch TV. Staff will monitor you closely to ensure you’re OK, but speak up if you feel uncomfortable or worried.
Rest time
After your donation is completed, you’ll rest on the couch for around 5 to 10 minutes. Then, you’ll be invited to the refreshments area to relax for another 15 minutes with a complimentary drink and snack.
Blood Clotting Is Still A Very Rare Reaction Following The Vaccine
It’s important to note that these are extremely rare reactions. As Reuters points out, the risk of women blood clotting from taking oral contraception is four women out of 10,000a far higher number than what is being seen following these COVID vaccines so far. According to the CDC, nearly seven million people have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the U.S., and only six people have reportedly experienced blood clotting. In a statement April 13, Johnson & Johnson said they are aware of an “extremely rare disorder involving people with blood clots in combination with low platelets in a small number of individuals” who have received their COVID vaccine.
On the same note, just 169 blood clotting cases following the AstraZeneca vaccine were reported to the EMA out of 34 million doses administered. “The reported combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is very rare, and the overall benefits of the vaccine in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks of side effects,” the EMA noted in its report. And for more up-to-date information, .
Also Check: Which Flu Vaccine Should I Get
Why Blood Donation Is Important
Since there is not an artificial substitute for blood, physicians rely on blood donation to save the lives of approximately 4.5 million people each year.
Blood transfusions are used in surgery, for traumatic injuries, cancer patients, chronic diseases, and for those with blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and hemophilia.
Medical facilities rely on a consistent supply of blood from donors to meet the needs of its patients and to ensure they are prepared for emergencies.
Itching At The Injection Site Or A Full
This would signal an allergic reaction, but its very rare to have an allergic reaction to the flu shot, Dr. Adalja notes. There are lots of myths about egg allergies and the vaccine,” he explainsbecause most flu shots and nasal sprays are manufactured using technology that involves small amounts of egg proteins, per the CDC.
“If you can eat scrambled eggs, youre not going to have a problem with the flu shot, Dr. Adalja says. If you have a confirmed egg allergy, you can likely still get the shot, the CDC says.
The caveat: If you experience severe itching at injection site, a rash all over your body, or signs of anaphylactic shock, seek immediate medical attention. And if youve had an allergic reaction to the flu shot in the past, you are among those few groups of people who the CDC recommends skip the flu shot.
Don’t Miss: Shoulder Pain After Flu Shot Treatment
Blood Donations And The Covid
Q: Can you give blood if you’ve been vaccinated?
A: Assuming you have no other health issue and were otherwise approved to donate, yes, you can give blood, platelets or plasma after a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the American Red Cross.
However, knowing which manufacturers vaccine you received is important in determining your blood donation eligibility, the Red Cross said. Donors are encouraged to bring their CDC card or other card or printout received when they were vaccinated. This should include which COVID-19 vaccine you received and the dates got them.
According to the Red Cross, in most cases there’s no wait time between showing your card and giving blood if:
- You are symptom free and feeling well.
- You received an inactivated or RNA-based COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by AstraZeneca, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Novavax or Pfizer.
There are situations in which you may need to wait to give blood, the Red Cross said. Eligible blood donors who received a live attenuated COVID-19 vaccine, or dont know what type of COVID-19 vaccine they received, must wait two weeks before giving blood.
What Does The Term Donor Deferral Mean
Donor deferral means that an individual is not eligible to donate based on the criteria used to protect the health and safety of both the donors and transfusion recipient. A prospective donor may be deferred at any point during the collection and testing process. The period of time you will not be eligible to donate depends on the specific reason for deferral. After the deferral period ends, a donor can return to the blood donor center to be reevaluated and resume donation if all donor eligibility criteria are met.
Blood donor centers follow donor eligibility criteria based on requirements of the FDA, AABB Standards, and their own local policies. The blood centers medical director has ultimate authority and can establish a more stringent deferral policy based on clinical judgement as a physician. Refer to the AABB Blood Donor History Questionnaire for examples of the questions asked during the donor screening process. Your blood donor center can best answer your questions about donor deferral. Some of the reasons for deferral are listed here:
Don’t Miss: Goodrx Coupon For Flu Shot
Common Flu Shot Side Effects You Should Know
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone age 6 months or older. It is best to get vaccinated by end of October or early November before the flu season begins.
The flu vaccine may prevent you from getting sick with influenza, but the shot itself may cause some side effects, which are very similar to symptoms of the flu. In addition to the pain, redness or swelling near the shot, you may experience headaches, muscle soreness, fever and nausea after getting the flu vaccine.
What About Platelet And Plasma Donation
Just as with blood donation, you dont have to wait to give platelets or plasma after youve had your COVID-19 vaccine as long as you know the vaccine manufacturer.
Platelets are small, tiny cell fragments that form clots to stop you from bleeding. Every 15 seconds, someone in the United States needs platelets. But you cant donate them at a blood drive because a special machine is used to remove just the platelets and return the remaining blood back to your body. The whole process may take 3 hours.
Continued
Plasma is a pale yellow liquid that carries your blood cells throughout your body. Its taken from your arm, but it goes to a centrifuge machine that spins fast to separate plasma from the rest of the blood and then return the blood back to your body. The cycle is repeated a few times till enough plasma is collected.
If youve had COVID-19 and want to give convalescent plasma, the rules are a bit different. Convalescent plasma contains antibodies that your body builds after a viral infection to fight off the illness. The FDA has given emergency authorization for convalescent plasma therapy with high antibody levels to treat COVID-19. Its usually given to hospitalized patients or people with weak immune systems.
If youre not sure, call your local blood donation center to ask if youre eligible to donate platelets, plasma, or convalescent plasma.
Also Check: Flu Shot Cause Heart Problems
How Colds And Flu Impact Blood Donations And How You Can Help
Blog post | 05 Jun 2019
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service is in urgent need of blood donations as more people cancel their appointments because they’re sick.
On an average day in Australia, more than 5,000 people give blood. But an early start to the cold and flu season has seen up to 1,400 donors cancel per day. The Blood Service hasn’t experienced this many cancellations since March 2017 a particularly bad year for flu.
The Queen’s Birthday long weekend is expected to make the problem worse if the public doesn’t act.
“To meet the needs of Australian patients, we really need 5,900 additional people to donate over the next 2 weeks,” says Blood Service spokesperson, Helen Walsh.
In particular, the Blood Service needs people with type O and A blood to donate, as nearly 9 in 10 Australians have one of these types.
Red Cross Urges Donations As Flu Season May Affect Blood Supply
DAVENPORT, Iowa – The American Red Cross is urging donors to donate now to combat the lowest blood supply levels at this time of year in more than a decade.
The Red Cross is also addressing an ongoing emergency blood shortage.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned about a potential spike in flu cases this year and said its important that those who are eligible, healthy and feeling well make an appointment to donate blood.
According to the CDC, flu cases reached an all-time low last year due to masking, physical distancing and shutdowns across the country, and many Americans may have reduced immunity this year.
When seasonal illness increases, the number of healthy blood donors tends to decrease, the Red Cross said in a media release. Paired with winter weather, busy holiday schedules and ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the already-struggling blood supply could be further impacted throughout winter.
There is no blood donation waiting period for those who have received a flu shot or a Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine or booster, so long as they are symptom-free, the American Red Cross said.
The Red Cross urges donors to schedule an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS .
To encourage donors to help meet the needs of hospital patients this month, the Red Cross said all who come to donate now through Nov. 23 will receive a $10 gift card by email, thanks to Amazon.
Iowa
Recommended Reading: Flu Shot Cost Without Insurance Walgreens
Can I Donate Blood After Getting A Covid
Yes. But there are some rules youll need to follow before you donate your blood after getting the jab. According to the eligibility guidelines set by the FDA, if you qualify to donate blood, in most cases, you can do it any time after youve had your COVID-19 vaccine.
But to be eligible, youll need to know and be able to give the name of your COVID-19 vaccines manufacturer. Approved manufacturers include AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer. You can donate as long as don’t have symptoms of COVID-19 and feel well when youre about to donate.
If you dont know which company manufactured your vaccine, youll need to wait 2 weeks before you can donate blood.
You Can’t Have A Fever Above 99 Degrees Cough Sniffles Or A Runny Nose On The Day Of Donation
Written by Mansi Kohli | Published : June 7, 2017 10:50 AM IST
A common cold is a viral infectious disease, which affects the upper respiratory tract and your nose, voice box and your throat. The basic symptoms for a cold include coughing, sneezing, running nose, fever and headache at times. A flu or called influenza, is a respiratory illness which is highly contagious. Symptoms of a flu include high fever, cold, fatigue and aching limbs and joints. In both of these situations, full body rest is recommended to the patient and the patient is given antibiotics and antivirals for the same. Dr Sudha Menon, Director – Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road says that since you have been taking treatment, by using antibiotics and antivirals, you are advised not to donate blood for at least 10 days. It is advised that you are free of flu and cold symptoms, for at least 48 hours, before you donate blood. This is because donating with cold will lower your immune system, and will further push you towards lingering illness and slower healing times, and even pneumonia in some unfortunate cases. And you wouldn t want to mess up with your body s system and further attract chronic or serious complications, right?
Image source: Shutterstock
Read Also: Type A Vs Type B Flu
Misconceptions About Physician Consent For Vaccination
Do pregnant women or people with pre-existing medical conditions need special permission or written consent from their doctor to get a flu vaccine?
No. There is no recommendation for pregnant women or people with pre-existing medical conditions to seek special permission or secure written consent from their doctor for vaccination if they get vaccinated at a worksite clinic, pharmacy or other location outside of their physicians office. With rare exception, CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older, including pregnant women and people with medical conditions.
A variety of flu vaccine products are available . Vaccine providers should be aware of the approved age indications of the vaccine they are using and of any contraindications or precautions. Providers also should appropriately screen all people getting vaccinated for allergies to vaccine components or other contraindications. People who have previously had a severe allergic reaction to influenza vaccine or any of its ingredients should generally not be vaccinated.
There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first speaking with their doctor. These include:
Pregnant women or people with pre-existing medical conditions who get vaccinated should get a flu shot.
Can I Donate Blood After Receiving A Flu Shot
Save Lives with RCN!
Mon, 06 – Sat, 18 Dec, 2021
RCN has generously adopted Mon, Dec. 6, through Sat, Dec. 18, to host Blood Drives at Miller-Keystone Blood Centers Allentown,
Give the Gift of Life With St. Lukes Allentown Campus!
Wed, 08 – Sat, 18 Dec, 2021
St. Lukes University Health Networks Allentown Campus has generously adopted Wednesday, Dec. 8 through Saturday, Dec. 18, to host blood
Save Lives with Boyscout Troop 171!
Mon, 20 – Wed, 22 Dec, 2021
Boyscout Troop has generously adopted Monday, Dec. 20 Wednesday, Dec. 22 to host a blood drive at MKBCs Reading
Andrew Squishy Bosco
It was June of 2021 when our world changed drastically. And not for the better. Our 14 month old son,
Jerry Block
My first blood transfusion was in 1989, when I underwent heart surgery. Since that time, I have been in the
Robert Ditro
A few years back I found myself ill with what I assumed was a virus or flu bug. When my
Read Also: How To Get Flu Shot Record From Cvs
The Flu Shot Is Effective
The effectiveness of the vaccine varies from season to season. It depends on:
- how well the vaccine matches with the circulating flu viruses
- the health and age of the person getting the flu shot
The viruses circulating in the population can sometimes change during the time it takes to produce a vaccine. When this happens during the flu season, the flu shot may not work as well as expected.
It’s also important to remember that the flu shot protects against several different flu viruses each season. The seasonal flu shot can still provide protection against the remaining 2 or 3 viruses, even when theres:
- a less-than-ideal match
- lower effectiveness against one virus
If you do get the flu, the flu shot may reduce the severity of flu-related complications.
Getting your flu shot is still the most effective way to protect yourself against the flu and flu-related complications.
Whats Involved In Donating Blood
Whether you donate at a mobile drive or at a center, your experience will involve the same steps. You can drop in, but making an appointment in advance helps us give you the best experience possible. The process is easy and safe. Bring photo id with you. You will be registered, and fill out a questionnaire to confirm that you are eligible to donate that day. After a short interview and health check with the technician, you will be on the cot for your donation. Afterwards, youll be invited to refreshments, and then be on your way.
I am not sure if I am eligible to donate. How can I find out?
Your questions may be answered on our eligibility page. If you have a specific question regarding your eligibility to donate blood and would like to discuss it with someone, you can email or call 656-3077.
What are the different types of blood that can be donated?
You can find details on different types of donations here. The most common is a whole blood donation, which usually takes less than one hour in total. You can do apheresis donations of platelets, plasma, or double red cells a process that takes 90 120 minutes. We can help you determine what works best for you, and how your donation can help patients most.
Where can I donate?
You can find a list of centers here. All of our centers have parking onsite or nearby.
Or you can find current listings of mobile drives here so you can donate near where you live, work or go to school.
Why are some people not eligible to donate?
Don’t Miss: Meningitis And Flu Shot Together