BVI Red Cross implores public to become blood donors
The BVI Red Cross has recently launched its online blood donor campaign to encourage members of the public to become a part of the Red Cross donor registry.
In a press release today, the BVI Red Cross said there has been an overwhelming request for blood donations by persons admitted at the hospital for surgeries and other medical-related emergencies.
However, according to the media release, the main challenge is that persons are not coming forward to donate blood, especially persons with rare blood types. These include O Negative, AB Positive and AB Negative.
The organisation noted that of all the blood types, O Negative is usually in short supply because this blood type is very rare. The O Negative blood type is routinely in short supply and high demand because it comes from a universal donor. This means doctors can administer the O Negative blood type to anyone in an emergency. However, people with this blood type can only accept blood from someone else with an O Negative blood type.
Another challenge the Red Cross face in maintaining the blood registry is the population of the territory. The Virgin Islands is very small, and blood only has a shelf life of up to 42 days. Therefore, persons would be required to give blood regularly to maintain the registry.
Also, persons who are interested in donating blood and has COVID-19 should wait 14 days following a diagnosis to donate blood, according to the organisation. The Red Cross said the COVID-19 vaccine does not restrict anyone from donating blood. There is no need to wait to give blood if a person has received a non-replicating, inactivated, or RNA based COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by AstraZeneca, Janssen/J&J, Moderna, Novavax, or Pfizer.
However, according to the media release, the main challenge is that persons are not coming forward to donate blood, especially persons with rare blood types. These include O Negative, AB Positive and AB Negative.
The organisation noted that of all the blood types, O Negative is usually in short supply because this blood type is very rare. The O Negative blood type is routinely in short supply and high demand because it comes from a universal donor. This means doctors can administer the O Negative blood type to anyone in an emergency. However, people with this blood type can only accept blood from someone else with an O Negative blood type.
Another challenge the Red Cross face in maintaining the blood registry is the population of the territory. The Virgin Islands is very small, and blood only has a shelf life of up to 42 days. Therefore, persons would be required to give blood regularly to maintain the registry.
Also, persons who are interested in donating blood and has COVID-19 should wait 14 days following a diagnosis to donate blood, according to the organisation. The Red Cross said the COVID-19 vaccine does not restrict anyone from donating blood. There is no need to wait to give blood if a person has received a non-replicating, inactivated, or RNA based COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by AstraZeneca, Janssen/J&J, Moderna, Novavax, or Pfizer.
