COVID-19 Vaccines and the Safety of the Blood Supply

Over the last year we have seen an increase in the number of inquiries from the public regarding the vaccination status of blood donors, specifically related to the newly authorized COVID-19 vaccines. Hospital employees are also receiving these questions from patients and/or friends and family who need a blood transfusion. The question that everyone wants answered is “how safe is the blood from donors who received the COVID-19 vaccine?” The answer: the blood from vaccinated donors is equally as safe as blood from all other donors in our inventory. There is no increased risk to transfusion from blood donated by donors who have received any of the approved COVID-19 vaccines.

As with all blood collection facilities in the United States, we are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and required to follow all rules and regulations put forth by the FDA. The FDA continually monitors the safety of the blood supply and has determined that there is no safety concern related to donors who have received an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccination. These vaccines do not alter the donor’s DNA and do not replicate in the transfused unit. There is no evidence to support any concerns related to the safety of blood from these individuals.

Approximately 80% of the population in the US has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and about 65% of the population in Texas is fully vaccinated. Given the high rate of vaccination and the fact that over 40,000 blood transfusions occur daily across the nation, the odds are high that blood from these donors is being transfused regularly. There have been no reports of increased adverse events from transfusions. Bottom line, the safety of the blood supply has not changed, and no one should be concerned about receiving a potentially life-saving transfusion.

Any move to ban these donors would only lead to severe blood shortages and increased mortality from lack of an adequate blood supply. Any requests to maintain dual inventory (separating vaccinated and unvaccinated product) is unnecessary and not feasible. Patients who have concerns about receiving a blood product should discuss this matter with their treating physician and get a clear understanding of the actual risks, benefits and alternatives to transfusion.

To address the ongoing concerns related to COVID-19 and blood donors in the US, the AABB has issued the following joint statement with ABC and ARC:  Joint Statement: Blood Community Reiterates the Safety of America’s Blood Supply for Patients.