Covid hits blood donation in Punjab, stock in banks depleting fast

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 5

Most of the blood banks in the Majha region have been facing acute blood shortage due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The health protocol says once a person gets vaccinated against Covid, he/she cannot donate blood for the next 28 days. Besides, a gap of 45-60 days has to be maintained between the two doses.

Now, the vaccination has started for people between 18 and 44 years. This age group is probable blood donors.

Looking at the paucity of blood, the doctors and the blood bank authorities have appealed to the people to donate their blood before being vaccinated against Covid.

In Amritsar, there is an acute shortage of AB, A and B group for the past few months. Against the requirement of 600-700 units per month, there is a stock of just 200 units. Incharge of Blood Bank, Civil Hospital, Amritsar, Dr Sardeepak Singh Riar said in the ongoing second wave of the pandemic, blood donation camps could not be held due to lockdown and misconceptions about Covid spread.

“This has negatively impacted thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia patients as their requirement of blood transfusion cannot be met. Besides, the gynaecology, delivery and accidental cases require blood in emergent situations,” he added. He said earlier 20-22 units of blood was issued daily in Amritsar district, but now we could not provide more than 10-12 units. “We have requested the NGOs to send the donors directly to us. We are also encouraging our employees to donate blood. I myself have donated blood,” he added.

The situation is same in Tarn Taran blood banks. Dr Rekha Rana, incharge, Civil Hospital, said they had been facing shortage of A, O and AB blood groups. The district has a total requirement of 300 units per month, whereas at present they are left with just 62 units of blood at the civil hospital.

Bhagat Pooran Singh Blood Donation Society, Patti, used to organise 24 camps a year, but failed to do so in the past one year.

Deferral period cut to 14 days after jab

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday decided to reduce the deferral period for blood donors from 28 days to 14 after receiving each dose of vaccine
• According to a letter by Additional Director General Dr Sunil Gupta, the deferral period has been reduced, subject to the condition that the donor conforms to other norms for blood donation