Key TakeawaysIt is safe to give blood after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.If you are healthy and not experiencing any side effects, you can donate blood in between COVID vaccine doses.

Key Takeaways

It is safe to give blood after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.If you are healthy and not experiencing any side effects, you can donate blood in between COVID vaccine doses.

Health professionals want to assure the public that it is safe to donate blood after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, it’s strongly encouraged, especially during the summer months when blood donation tends to be low.

The Red Cross also says that receiving a blood transfusion from someone who has had the COVID-19 vaccine is safe.

“It is possible that a donor’s antibody developed in response to the vaccine could be passively transferred via transfusion,“Pampee Young, MD, chief medical officer for the American Red Cross, tells Verywell. “However, they would constitute a very minor amount of passively-transferred antibody in comparison to the recipient’s overall levels of antibodies.”

What Are Antibodies?Antibodies are proteins found on the surface of immune system calledB cells. They can inactivate and help get rid of infection.

What Are Antibodies?

Antibodies are proteins found on the surface of immune system calledB cells. They can inactivate and help get rid of infection.

Antibodies From Vaccines vs. Antibodies From Natural Infection

Blood Donation Eligibility

You are eligible to donate blood anytime after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. As long as you are feeling healthy and well, there is no wait time necessary between the shot and blood donation.

According to the Red Cross, blood can also be donated in between the first and second vaccine doses as long as the recipient is not experiencing any side effects from the vaccine, such as muscle aches, headache, soreness, or fever. Blood donation can resume once side effects go away.

When You Should Not Donate Blood

Although giving blood is a great way to help those that are facing critical health situations, there are certain criteria that disqualify someone from donating blood either temporarily or permanently.

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that you should not donate blood if you:

Blood Type Has No Impact on COVID-19 Infections or Severity, New Study Finds

Convalescent Plasma Donation

Early in the pandemic, the antibodies from donated plasma obtained from those who recovered from COVID-19 (referred to as convalescent plasma) were thought to be beneficial in treating those with an active infection. However, recent studies have shown that this is not the case, and according to the American Red Cross, people who are vaccinated are not eligible to donate convalescent plasma at this time.

NIH: Convalescent Plasma Offers No Benefits as COVID-19 Treatment

Different Types of Blood Donation

There are several different types of blood donation: whole blood, plasma, and platelets. Each type has its own specific eligibility requirements.

Whole Blood Donation

Whole blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma.

Platelet Donation

Platelets are the blood clotting components of blood and help the body stop bleeding when it is injured. Platelet donation is helpful for those that have cancer, chronic diseases, or have suffered a traumatic injury.

AB Elite Plasma Donation

AB blood is the universal blood type for plasma donation. The American Red Cross estimates that only 4% of the population has this blood type.

During plasma donation, a machine collects the plasma from your blood and then returns the red blood cells and platelets back to your body. Plasma is beneficial to people with cancer, burns, and trauma patients.

How Often Can You Donate Plasma?

Why Blood Donation Is Important

Since there is not an artificial substitute for blood, physicians rely on blood donation to save the lives of approximately4.5 million people each year.

Blood transfusions are used in surgery, for traumatic injuries, cancer patients, chronic diseases, and for those with blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and hemophilia.

Medical facilities rely on a consistent supply of blood from donors to meet the needs of its patients and to ensure they are prepared for emergencies.

What This Means For YouIf you are healthy and feeling well, there is no reason you can’t donate blood after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

What This Means For You

If you are healthy and feeling well, there is no reason you can’t donate blood after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Red Cross.Joint Statement: Blood Donation Concerns Rise as Country Enters New Phase of the Pandemic.

World Health Organization.Who can give blood.

American Red Cross.When can I donate blood after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine?

American Red Cross.AB Elite Plasma Donation.

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