Flu season may further impact Red Cross blood supply; Emergency blood shortage continues
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
As the holidays approach and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns about a potential spike in flu cases this year, it’s important that those who are eligible, healthy and feeling well make an appointment to donate blood or platelets. The American Red Cross continues to address an ongoing emergency blood shortage, and donors are urged to give now to combat the lowest blood supply levels at this time of year in more than a decade.
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. 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. Donors are urged to schedule an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
To encourage donors to help meet the needs of hospital patients this month, all who come to donate Nov. 1-23 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, thanks to Amazon.* Those who come to give around the Thanksgiving holiday, Nov. 24-28, will receive a pair of Red Cross socks, while supplies last.
Blood drive safety
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 16-30
Quincy
11/16/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Quincy Medical Group, Quincy Medical Group -, 1125 Hampshire St
11/16/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Quincy Blood Donation Center, 3000 N. 23rd Street
11/19/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Quincy Blood Donation Center, 3000 N. 23rd Street
11/19/2021: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1119 South 7th Street
11/20/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Quincy Blood Donation Center, 3000 N. 23rd Street
11/21/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Quincy Blood Donation Center, 3000 N. 23rd Street
11/23/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Quincy Blood Donation Center, 3000 N. 23rd Street
11/24/2021: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Lutheran Church of St John, 3340 State ST
11/26/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Quincy Blood Donation Center, 3000 N. 23rd Street
11/26/2021: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., St Francis Church, 1721 College Ave
11/27/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Quincy Blood Donation Center, 3000 N. 23rd Street
11/28/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Quincy Blood Donation Center, 3000 N. 23rd Street
11/30/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., John Wood Community College, 1301 S. 48th St.
11/30/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Quincy Blood Donation Center, 3000 N. 23rd Street
Beardstown
11/23/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Saint Johns Lutheran Church, 214 E 6th St
Save time during donation
Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.
