Taos News

National blood supply shortage ongoing

By SOL TRAVERSO straverso@taosnews.com

The nonprofit organization Vitalant is raising awareness of an

ongoing national blood shortage. Vitalant services blood to almost 900 hospitals across 28 states.

The organization said that it fell short of its usual goal by more than 4,500 donations in December 2021 and the trend has continued

into January 2022.

The American Red Cross, which supplies 40 percent of the nation’s blood, is also experiencing a shortage. The Red Cross website said

it has seen a 10 percent drop in blood donations since March 2020 and is experiencing “the worst blood shortage in over a decade.”

Vitalant is encouraging all eligible donors to give blood if they can, particularly those with the blood type O.

“It’s important for people to remember that they can give blood immediately after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine if you’re

healthy and well,” said Vitalant Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ralph Vassallo in a press release. “To ensure patient care isn’t jeopardized, we need people to schedule an appointment today. Even if the appointment is several weeks from now, setting and keeping it will help replenish what’s needed

for both routine treatments and emergencies.”

Vitalant attributes the Omicron variant to canceled community blood drive events and impairing

healthy, available donors, causing the current shortage.

The organization is incentivizing people to donate by offering a cash giveaway prize.

For more information or to make an appointment, visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL.

LOCAL NEWS

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2022-01-13T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-13T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://taosnews.pressreader.com/article/281530819381665

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