Vitalant is urging all eligible donors to resolve to give blood in January and help prevent a shortage. Many blood and platelet donation appointments remain available in the new year, a worrisome sign that Vitalant could experience a blood shortage. Making and keeping donation appointments helps ensure a steady flow of donations through Vitalant for routine and emergency patient needs.
January is also National Blood Donor Month; All blood types needed
During National Blood Donor Month, donors of all types are needed, especially type O and platelet donors. Type O blood is most in-demand. Platelet donations must be used within a week of donation and help cancer patients who need frequent transfusions. As a special thank you, all donors who give Dec. 22–Jan. 7 will receive a Vitalant long-sleeve T-shirt redeemable by email.
Eligibility and appointments: no waiting period after flu shot, COVID-19 vaccine
To learn more and schedule an appointment to donate, please visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Vitalant follows strict protocols to ensure the safety of donors, patients, and staff, including social distancing and other precautions. Masks are required for all donors, staff, volunteers and guests regardless of vaccination status. There is no waiting period to donate after receiving a Food and Drug Administration authorized COVID-19 vaccine or seasonal flu vaccine if other eligibility requirements are met.
About Vitalant
Vitalant (“Vye-TAL-ent”) is the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit blood services provider exclusively focused on providing lifesaving blood and comprehensive transfusion medicine services for about 900 hospitals and their patients across the U.S. Every day, Vitalant needs to collect about 5,300 blood, platelet and plasma donations to help save lives. For more information and to schedule a donation appointment, visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.