False: The American Red Cross will not accept convalescent plasma donations from people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

By: Varun Kumar
May 17 2021

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Plasma donations may be accepted as long as a person provides the vaccine manufacturer's name and feels healthy, with no symptoms of COVID-19.Recent social media posts have claimed that the American Red Cross will not accept convalescent plasma donations from people who have had the COVID-19 vaccine. On February 24, 2021, the American Red Cross issued a press release stating that people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine could donate blood, platelets, and AB Elite plasma if they know which company made the vaccine they received such as Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. If the individual does not know who made the vaccine, they must wait two weeks before donating. The organization also lists recipients of Novavax and AstraZeneca, two vaccines currently being tested in the U.S., as eligible for blood donation. COVID-19 antibodies are commonly found in blood plasma donated by people who have recovered from COVID-19 infection. Convalescent plasma can be given to people who have COVID-19 to help them fight the coronavirus. In addition, the FDA has granted convalescent plasma therapy emergency approval to treat COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.