Blood and Platelet Donation in Consideration of COVID-19
There is a constant need for blood products to support patients at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Because red blood cells and platelets cannot be stored for long periods, donations by healthy volunteers are needed to continuously replenish the supply.
We are now starting to see blood shortages in the US due to coronavirus. As businesses have encouraged or mandated their employees to work from home, many office blood drives are being canceled. Because our patients depend on these lifesaving products, I would like to encourage individuals who are healthy and eligible to please make an appointment to donate at the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center.
We only collect blood from individuals who are healthy and feel well on the day of donation. To further minimize the risk of coronavirus exposure to donors and staff within the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center and Mobile Unit, we have taken the following steps:
• We are scheduling a small number of donors for any given appointment time.
• We have implemented strict environmental guidelines that include stringent cleaning of all surface areas in-between donations.
There is no evidence that coronavirus can be transmitted by blood transfusion.
Please contact the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center at 617.632.3206 to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions. Thank you for helping to support our patients and community.
Richard Kaufman MD
Medical Director
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Transfusion Service
Associate Professor of Pathology
Harvard Medical School
