Joint Statement: Blood Community Reiterates the Safety of America’s Blood Supply for Patients

The following statement has been issued by AABB, America’s Blood Centers and the American Red Cross regarding COVID-19 vaccines and blood donations:

Amid ongoing conversation about COVID-19 vaccinations and blood donation, America’s Blood Centers, the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB), and the American Red Cross reiterate the safety of America’s blood supply and assure the public that vaccines do not pose a risk to patients receiving blood transfusions.

Blood donations from individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccine approved or authorized for use in the U.S. are safe for transfusion. Similar to other vaccines such as those for measles, mumps or influenza, COVID-19 vaccines are designed to generate an immune response to help protect an individual from illness, but vaccine components themselves do not replicate through blood transfusions or alter a blood recipients’ DNA.

In summary, there is no scientific evidence that demonstrates adverse outcomes from the transfusions of blood products collected from vaccinated donors and, therefore, no medical reason to distinguish or separate blood donations from individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccination.

All blood collection organizations in the U.S. are required to follow Food and Drug Administration guidelines and regulations to collect, process and distribute blood products for patients in need. The FDA explicitly allows donors who have recently received approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines to give blood as long as they are healthy on the day of donation and meet all other eligibility criteria. On multiple occasions, the Food and Drug Administration has confirmed that there is no evidence to support concerns related to the safety of blood donated by vaccinated individuals.

All Americans, including both blood donors and blood recipients, should feel confident that receiving a blood transfusion is safe. COVID-19 vaccines do not replicate, and all blood donations offer the same life-saving therapeutic benefits, regardless of the vaccination status of the donor.

Donated blood helps save the lives of millions of individuals every year. The blood community encourages healthy, eligible individuals to make an appointment to donate blood in the new year, particularly since the winter months are often one of the most challenging times to collect blood. Please contact one of the following organizations to find a local blood collection site and to schedule an appointment:

AABB: www.WhereToDonateBlood.org; +1.301.907.6977
America’s Blood Centers: www.AmericasBlood.org; +1.202.393.5725
American Red Cross: www.RedCrossBlood.org; +1.800.RED CROSS (+1.800.733.2767)

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