LAFAYETTE, La. — The impact of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has severely impacted the blood supply across the country as Vitalant and other blood centers are working to maintain their inventories.
According to a release from Vitalant, the blood center is reporting that 25% of its blood collections that were anticipated in March have vanished almost overnight after school closures and workers staying at home with the number continuing to grow.
Vitalant is reporting that it has had more than 1,400 blood drives canceled through the end of June, resulting in nearly 41,000 uncollected blood donations.
The blood center is requesting that healthy healthy donors schedule an appointment for a donation in the coming days and weeks—instead of donating without an appointment right now—to help them address this growing shortage.
Donors can also give blood at mobile blood drives, which must continue to be organized. Blood donors and mobile blood drives will be needed in the coming weeks and months to ensure a stable blood supply for hospitals.
Donation appointments can be made at the Lafayette Donor Center at 1503 Bertrand Drive in Lafayette by calling 1-877-827-4376 or by visiting www.Vitalant.org.