Donating Plasma After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

Plasma donors are needed more than ever as the world continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plasma remains in high demand for rare disease patients who depend on plasma-derived medicine. This "source plasma" is collected and fractionated to extract proteins, like immunoglobulins and clotting factor, needed by those with immune system problems or bleeding disorders. Plasma donations continue as usual at CSL Plasma centers, with mask wearing and other safety precautions in place. The U.S. has designated plasma collection centers as essential during the pandemic.

Donors who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 can still donate source plasma.

It is important to note, however, that donors who have received a COVID-19 vaccine cannot donate convalescent plasma, according to a recommendation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This is due to "uncertainty regarding the quality of the immune response produced by such investigational vaccines," the FDA recommendation says. "Convalescent plasma" is collected from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 in an effort to pass along their COVID-19 antibodies to others who are struggling to recover.

Several rare disease patient groups last year made personal appeals to plasma donors urging them to continue donating source plasma during this challenging time. Learn more about the donation process by watching the video below.

To learn more about donating plasma, visit https://www.cslplasma.com/.

Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of WITI.