Flu vaccine, blood donation both help save lives
Healthy donors are needed to maintain blood supply
(Oct. 21, 2020) — The American Red Cross is urging healthy donors of all blood types to give blood or platelets to ensure a strong blood supply for patients as the U.S. braces for flu season while in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flu shot doesn’t affect blood donation eligibility
Medical experts are urging people to get the flu shot to avoid a flu epidemic on top of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Because blood can only be given by those who are feeling well, a severe flu season could create additional challenges to maintaining a sufficient blood supply for hospital patients in need.
Get the flu vaccine this year to help protect the nation from the virus but also to ensure that patients continue to have access to lifesaving blood products. There is no waiting period to give blood or platelets after receiving a flu shot as long as the donor is symptom-free and fever-free. There is no risk of transmitting the influenza virus after receiving a flu vaccination.
For those that have the flu, it is important to wait until they no longer exhibit flu symptoms, have recovered completely and feel well before attempting to donate. Donors must feel healthy and well on the day of donation.
Stay healthy this flu season and make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
In thanks for making time to donate, the Red Cross will send those who come to give Oct. 15-Nov. 11 a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email, courtesy of Suburban Propane. Plus, those who come to give in October are automatically entered for a chance to win a $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card. Five lucky people will win. (Restrictions apply. Additional information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Unite.)
Important COVID-19 information for donors
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual developed COVID-19 symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.
COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Oct. 22-Nov. 15:
GA
Chatham
Savannah
10/21/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., South University, 709 Mall Blvd
10/21/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
10/22/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Toombs
Vidalia
10/22/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Vidalia High School, 901 North Street West
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Chatham
Savannah
10/23/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
10/23/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Habersham Branch – YMCA of Coastal Georgia, 6400 Habersham St.
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Liberty
Hinesville
10/23/2020: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Liberty County Clerk Office, 201 S. Main St. Suite 1200
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Chatham
Savannah
10/24/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
10/25/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
10/26/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bulloch
Statesboro
10/27/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Ogeechee Technical College, 1 Joe Kennedy Boulevard
10/27/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Georgia Southern University/ROTC, 4526 Old Register Road
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Chatham
Savannah
10/27/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
Pooler
10/28/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., So Fit, 1212 US-80
Savannah
10/28/2020: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Lighthouse Baptist Church, 401 Quarterman Dr.
10/28/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Tattnall
Cobbtown
10/28/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Cobbtown Community Center, 373 Durden St
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Bulloch
Statesboro
10/29/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., St Matthew Catholic Church, 221 John Paul Ave
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Chatham
Savannah
10/29/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Keller Williams Realty, 329 Commerical Drive
10/29/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Toombs
Vidalia
10/29/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Calvary on Aimwell, 607 Aimwell Road
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Bulloch
Statesboro
10/30/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Statesboro Family YMCA, 409 Clairborne Ave
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Chatham
Savannah
10/30/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
10/30/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Nine Line Apparel, 450 Fort Argyle Road
10/31/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/1/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bacon
Alma
11/2/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Bacon County High School, 1190 US Highway 1 South
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Chatham
Savannah
11/2/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Tattnall
Reidsville
11/2/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tattnall County High School, #1Battle Creek Warrior Boulevard
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Wayne
Jesup
11/2/2020: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wayne Memorial Hospital, 865 South First Street
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Chatham
Savannah
11/3/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Toombs
Vidalia
11/3/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Vidalia Community Center, 107 Old Airport Road
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Bulloch
Statesboro
11/4/2020: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Honey Bowen Building, Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks & Rec Honey Bowen Bldg., 1 Max Lockwood Dr
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Chatham
Savannah
11/4/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, 400 Airways Ave.
11/4/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bulloch
Statesboro
11/5/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., East Georgia Regional Medical Center, 1499 Fair Road
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Chatham
Savannah
11/5/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Ad Specialty Services, 402 E. Montgomery Cross Road
11/5/2020: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Joe Marchese Construction, 1525 Dean Forest Rd. Suite 100
11/5/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bryan
Richmond Hill
11/6/2020: 3 p.m. – 8 p.m., Waterways Community, 51 Waterways Parkway North
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Chatham
Savannah
11/6/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Wayne
Jesup
11/6/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., VFW Post #4583, 436 Project Street
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Chatham
Savannah
11/7/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/8/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/9/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bacon
Alma
11/10/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 201 North Church Street
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Chatham
Savannah
11/10/2020: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Armstrong Campus Student Union, 11935 Abercorn Extension
11/10/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Liberty
Fort Stewart
11/10/2020: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fort Stewart, 1639 Gulick Ave
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Chatham
Savannah
11/11/2020: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Candler Hospital, 5353 Reynolds St.
11/11/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Savannah, 520 Washington Ave.
11/11/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/12/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Emanuel
Swainsboro
11/12/2020: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 240 West Main Street
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Screven
Sylvania
11/12/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Screven County Recreation Dept, 1605 Millen Highway
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Chatham
Savannah
11/13/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/14/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/15/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bulloch
Statesboro
11/16/2020: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Statesboro Primitive Baptist Church, 4 S. Zetterower Avenue
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Candler
Metter
11/16/2020: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Metter Community Center, 435 N. Rountree Street
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Chatham
Savannah
11/16/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/17/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Montgomery
Ailey
11/17/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Higgston Baptist Church, 512 James St
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Bulloch
Statesboro
11/18/2020: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Bulloch County Park & Recreation, 1 Max Lockwood Drive
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Chatham
Savannah
11/18/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Effingham
Springfield
11/18/2020: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Springfield United Methodist Church, 210 Cleveland Street
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Chatham
Bloomingdale
11/19/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Faulkville Baptist Church, 144 Zeigler Road
Savannah
11/19/2020: 12:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
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Bulloch
Statesboro
11/20/2020: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Honey Bowen Building, Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks & Rec Honey Bowen Bldg., 1 Max Lockwood Dr
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Chatham
Savannah
11/20/2020: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
11/20/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., MGreen Productions, 8408 Arrow St.
11/21/2020: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Savannah Blood Donation Center, 25 Tibet Ave
About blood donation
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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