Flu Vaccine And Blood Donation Both Help Save Lives
According to medical experts, this year its more important than ever for people to get the flu vaccine. This is to help keep the country as healthy as possible to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic from overlapping with a flu epidemic. A severe flu season could compound ongoing challenges to maintaining a sufficient supply of blood products for hospital patients in need due to COVID-19. Blood drives have been canceled in unprecedented numbers during this pandemic as organizations, businesses and schools have temporarily closed or restricted access to these community locations where drives are held for the public
TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER
Get the flu vaccine this year to help protect the nation from the virus but also to ensure that patients continue to have access to lifesaving blood products. The vaccine can be administered by a flu shot or intranasal. Neither are cause for a blood donation deferral and there is no risk of transmitting the influenza virus after receiving the vaccine.
For those that have the flu, it is important to wait until they no longer exhibit flu symptoms, have recovered completely and feel well before attempting to donate. All blood donors must feel healthy and well on the day of donation.
Individuals can find more information about preventing the flu on redcross.org, as well as receive guidance on the flu from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
DONATING BLOOD IS SAFE
About the American Red Cross:
Can You Give Blood After The Coronavirus Vaccine What To Know About Post
But with safety measures now in place to help protect donors from the virus, organizations such as the Red Cross are accepting even urging donations by appointment.
Still, in this new era, those who have had the virus or have been vaccinated against it may wonder whether they are eligible to give or whether its in their best interest to do so.
In most cases, the answer is yes. Heres what we know about donating blood if youve had the coronavirus or have been vaccinated.
Flu Vaccine Blood Donation Both Help Save Lives
Healthy donors are needed to maintain blood supply
The American Red Cross is urging healthy donors of all blood types to give blood or platelets to ensure a strong blood supply for patients as the U.S. braces for flu season while in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flu shot doesnt affect blood donation eligibility
Medical experts are urging people to get the flu shot to avoid a flu epidemic on top of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Because blood can only be given by those who are feeling well, a severe flu season could create additional challenges to maintaining a sufficient blood supply for hospital patients in need.
Get the flu vaccine this year to help protect the nation from the virus but also to ensure that patients continue to have access to lifesaving blood products. There is no waiting period to give blood or platelets after receiving a flu shot as long as the donor is symptom-free and fever-free. There is no risk of transmitting the influenza virus after receiving a flu vaccination.
For those that have the flu, it is important to wait until they no longer exhibit flu symptoms, have recovered completely and feel well before attempting to donate. Donors must feel healthy and well on the day of donation.
Stay healthy this flu season and make an appointment to donate bloodRedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Important COVID-19 information for donors
How to donate blood
About the American Red Cross
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What To Know About The Flu Vaccine And Plasma Donation
Plasma donors can get a voucher for a flu shot and, yes, you can donate plasma after receiving the flu vaccine.
This fall CSL Plasma is providing influenza vaccination vouchers to plasma donors in the United States.
“We believe receiving a flu vaccine is an important action a person can take to help prevent the flu each year,” said Dr. Jennifer Hanes, Division Medical Director, U.S. Plasma Operations, CSL Plasma. “While receiving a flu vaccine does not eliminate the possibility of contracting the flu, research shows the flu vaccine has helped reduce related illnesses and the risk of serious complications that can lead to hospital stays or even loss of life.”
Donors can redeem vouchers for the vaccine at no cost at Walgreens pharmacy locations across the U.S. after two donations in a calendar month. As with any vaccine, individuals should discuss potential risks and any further questions they have with a health care provider.
Donors are eligible to donate plasma after getting the flu vaccine or the COVID-19 vaccine.Human plasma is vital to producing therapies used around the world to treat a number of rare and serious diseases.
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect a person’s nose, throat and lungs. The flu can result in mild to severe illness. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , on average, about 8% of the U.S. population gets sick from flu each season.
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Why Should People Get Vaccinated Against Flu
Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and flu can affect people differently, but millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. Flu can mean a few days of feeling bad and missing work or it can result in more serious illness. Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children. While some people who get a flu vaccine may still get sick, flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness.
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How Much Do You Get Paid For Plasma Donations
The amount you can get paid for donating plasma varies. It can be higher or lower depending on which site you donate, your weight, and whether you are donating for the first time.
To come out healthy and safe at the end, you must visit a certified donation center. Unfortunately, if you are only just doing it for the first time, it can be hard to select a good center from all the available options.
Well, this is where DoNotPay comes in. We will not only help you locate a trustworthy center but one that offers the best bonuses and rewards so you can make the most out of the experience.
What To Expect When You Get Your Flu Vaccine
If your appointment is at your GP or healthcare provider, a nurse will most likely give you the vaccine. Many local pharmacists also give flu jab to people aged 13 and older.
After your vaccination, you may be asked to wait for up to 20 minutes so that treatment can be given quickly if a very rare, severe allergic reaction occurs. Many people aged 13 years and older will only need to wait 5minutes. Children under 13 years will need to wait 20 minutes.
No matter how long your waiting period is, you should avoid driving, cycling or using any other only walk, take public transport or be driven by another person for 20 minutes after your vaccination. After 20 minutes you are able to drive, cycle or use another mobility device.
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Can I Donate After Receiving A Covid
As COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed throughout the U.S., what does this mean for blood donors? Great news: if you receive the vaccine, you can still donate blood, platelets and AB Elite plasma! Donating blood is essential to help save lives and support the efforts of those on the frontlines of the pandemic.
You Can Give Blood Even After Getting A Flu Shot
Vaccination Does Not Prevent Blood Donation
Flu season is underway, and it is expected that more than half of the U.S. population will get a flu vaccine this year according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases . However, the American Red Cross does not defer individuals from donating blood after receiving the influenza vaccine if they are symptom-free and meet all other donation eligibility requirements.
Did you read that? You can still give blood, even after getting a flu shot!
Important Flu and Blood Facts
The flu vaccine can be administered by a flu shot or intranasal. Neither are cause for a blood donation deferral and there is no risk of transmitting the influenza virus after receiving the vaccine. Additionally, influenza virus has not been shown to be transmitted through blood transfusion.
If you have the flu, it is important to wait until you no longer have symptoms and have recovered completely before attempting to donate. All blood donors must feel healthy and well on the day of donation.
Preventing the Flu
According to the Centers for Disease Control , millions of people in this country get sick with flu every year, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized and, unfortunately, tens of thousands die. The best way to help avoid getting influenza is to get vaccinated every year.
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Vaccine Supply And Distribution
How much influenza vaccine is projected to be available for the 2021-2022 influenza season?
Flu vaccine is produced by private manufacturers, so supply depends on manufacturers. Vaccine manufacturers have projected that they will supply the United States with as many as 188 million to 200 million doses of influenza vaccine for the 2021-2022 season. These projections may change as the season progresses. All flu vaccines for the 2021-2022 season will be quadrivalent . Most will be thimerosal-free or thimerosal-reduced vaccine and about 18% of flu vaccines will be egg-free.
Where can I find information about vaccine supply?
Special Consideration Regarding Egg Allergy
People with egg allergies can receive any licensed, recommended age-appropriate influenza vaccine that is otherwise appropriate. People who have a history of severe egg allergy should be vaccinated in a medical setting, supervised by a health care provider who is able to recognize and manage severe allergic reactions. Two completely egg-free flu vaccine options are available: quadrivalent recombinant vaccine and quadrivalent cell-based vaccine.
What Kinds Of Flu Vaccines Are Available
CDC recommends use of any licensed, age-appropriate influenza vaccine during the 2021-2022 influenza season. Available influenza vaccines include quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine , recombinant influenza vaccine , or live attenuated influenza vaccine . No preference is expressed for any influenza vaccine over another.
Quadrivalent flu vaccines include:
Are any of the available flu vaccines recommended over others?
For the 2021-2022 flu season, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older with any licensed, influenza vaccine that is appropriate for the recipients age and health status, including inactivated influenza vaccine , recombinant influenza vaccine , or live attenuated nasal spray influenza vaccine with no preference expressed for any one vaccine over another.
There are many vaccine options to choose from, but the most important thing is for all people 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine every year. If you have questions about which vaccine is best for you, talk to your doctor or other health care professional.
Who Should Vaccinate?
Everyone 6 months of age and older should get an influenza vaccine every season with rare exception. CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has made this recommendation since the 2010-2011 influenza season.
More information is available at Who Needs a Flu Vaccine.
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated?
When should I get vaccinated?
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The Claim: Red Cross Says People Vaccinated Against Covid
A lack of blood drives amid the coronavirus pandemic has caused a blood plasma shortage across the country, but some have taken to social media to claim those vaccinated against COVID-19 are not eligible to donate.
The claim follows similar posts that surfaced in the beginning of May, which falsely claimed the Japanese Red Cross Society stopped accepting blood donations from vaccinated individuals.
“The American Red Cross says you cannot donate Blood Plasma if you’ve had the vaccine, because the vaccine wipes out the body’s natural antibodies,” reads a May 22 Facebook post with about 3,000 shares.
Accompanying the text is a screengrab of a purported news broadcast with the title: “Red Cross needs blood donors but those vaccinated cannot donate plasma.”
Similar versions shared widely on, and contribute to debunked falsehoods surrounding the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
None of the social media users returned USA TODAY’s requests for comment.
Fact check:Federal law does not prevent states, businesses, employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccines
Donated plasma the main component of blood containing water, nutrients and proteins the body needs is used for treating emergency burns and developing therapies for rare immune disorders. But vaccination status doesn’t impact anyone’s eligibility to donate plasma, and it also doesn’t harm the immune system, the American Red Cross and experts say.
When You Shouldn’t Get A Flu Jab
You should delay a flu vaccine if you’re feeling unwell.
If youve recently had COVID-19 you can have a flu jab as soon as youve recovered.
It’s also important to talk to your health professional before getting the vaccineif you:
- have had Guillain-Barre syndrome
- have had an allergic reaction to a vaccination before.
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Can You Donate Blood After Getting The Covid
This is totally fine to do, according to the American Red Cross. There are a few things to know upfront, though:
- You’ll need to provide the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine you received when you come in to donate.
- There is no waiting period after you get the COVID-19 vaccine, as long as you’re feeling OK.
The American Red Cross specifically says that you can donate blood whenever you want after you receive a vaccine made by AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Novavax, or Pfizer .
The organization also says that “eligible blood donors who received a live attenuated COVID-19 vaccine or do not know what type of COVID-19 vaccine they received must wait two weeks before giving blood.” However, that’s a little confusing since none of the COVID-19 vaccines currently available are live-attenuated vaccines .
According to William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine says this is most likely a blanket statement. It’s a “very standard restriction” that applies to all kinds of vaccines before blood donation. Those live-attenuated vaccines they’re referencing likely refer to the ones in use against conditions like yellow fever, measles, and chickenpox. “But the number of adults to get that are very, very few,” Dr. Schaffner tells Health.
Can I Donate If
For whole-blood donation, you can make an appointment using our simple on-line form. If you have any other questions or concerns regarding donation, call the NIH Blood Bank at 496-1048. We can also answer many of your questions via email at .
Below, you will find a list of questions donors frequently ask. The eligibility criteria for donation at the National Institutes of Health Department of Transfusion Medicine reflects local NIH policy as well as national regulations. Although all blood banks are required to follow general federal regulations, specific criteria may vary, depending on each blood bank’s internal policies. If you are donating at a blood bank other than the NIH Blood Bank, contact that bank with any questions regarding your eligibility.
Can I donate if …
Can I donate if I am taking aspirin? You cannot donate platelets if you have taken aspirin in the last 48 hours.
Can I donate if I am 16 years old? You must be at least 17 years old to donate at the NIH Blood Bank or Donor Center at Fishers Lane.
Can I donate if I am 70 years old? There is no upper age limit for donation.
Can I donate if I have traveled to other countries? There is a slight risk of exposure to infectious agents outside the United States that could cause serious disease. Donor deferral criteria for travel outside the US are designed to prevent the transmission of three specific organisms from donor to recipient:
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Should You Get A Flu Shot
In general, every person with diabetes needs a flu shot each year. Talk with your doctor about having a flu shot. Flu shots do not give 100% protection, but they do make it less likely for you to catch the flu for about six months.
For extra safety, it’s a good idea for the people you live with or spend a lot of time with to get a flu shot, too. You are less likely to get the flu if the people around you don’t have it.
The best time to get your flu shot is beginning in September. The shot takes about two weeks to take effect.
If youre sick , ask if you should wait until you are healthy again before having your flu shot. And don’t get a flu shot if you are allergic to eggs.
You are advised to continue to take the general precautions of preventing seasonal flu and other communicable illnesses and diseases:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash. If you dont have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hand.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.