Those Who Receive COVID-19 Vaccine Are Able to Donate Blood

COVID-19 vaccine does not impact donor eligibility

The American Red Cross wants to remind the public that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine does not make you ineligible to donate blood and blood donations from those who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 are safe for transfusion.

The Red Cross, like all blood collectors in the U.S., is required to follow the eligibility guidelines set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including guidance regarding blood donor eligibility related to those who receive vaccinations, such as a COVID-19 vaccine and others.

The FDA permits individuals to donate blood with no wait period after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as long as they are feeling well and symptom free, and the vaccine they received is one approved by the FDA for use in the US. Those who report they have received a COVID-19 vaccine are asked to provide the name of the manufacturer to ensure it is an FDA approved vaccine. If the donor cannot remember the name of the manufacturer, they are asked to wait two weeks from their vaccination to give blood.

RapidPass helps donors save time

To help donors save time at their next donation, the Red Cross offers a RapidPass, where donors can complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving to the blood drive.

It’s important to note the RapidPass is not able to determine blood donation eligibility, so our phone number, 1-800-RED CROSS, is listed alongside many of the questions to allow donors to get additional eligibility information prior to making a trip to donate. For example, this note displays on the question about if you have received a COVID-19 vaccine because those who indicate that they have received a COVID-19 vaccine are then asked to provide the name of the manufacturer to ensure it is an FDA-approved vaccine. Those who have received an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine may be able to donate as long as they feel well and meet all other donor eligibility criteria.

A Safe Blood Supply

Blood donations from those who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 are safe for transfusion. Similar to other vaccines such as measles, mumps or influenza, the COVID-19 vaccine is designed to generate an immune response to help protect an individual from illness, but vaccine components themselves are not found within the bloodstream. Additionally, a donor’s immune response is not impacted by giving blood. Donating blood after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine does not reduce a donor’s protection from the virus.  

More information about blood donation safety: Joint Statement: Blood Community Reiterates the Safety of America’s Blood Supply for Patients (redcross.org).

More about vaccines

For some vaccinations, the FDA requires varying wait times to donate blood depending on the vaccine. This includes wait times that can vary from 2 to 4 weeks for a number of vaccines including but not limited to measles, mumps and rubella, chicken pox, shingles, polio, yellow fever, hepatitis B, and others. Due to this, the Red Cross and all blood collectors ask each potential donor about a history of vaccination to determine eligibility.

You can read more about vaccinations and donor eligibility under the “Immunization, Vaccination” tab of the donor eligibility page here: https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-alphabetical.html.

Blood helps save lives

Blood is an essential, life-saving medicine. Every day, blood transfusions are used to treat patients with burns, battling cancer, during childbirth and surgery. A strong blood supply also saves lives during emergencies, allowing clinicians to provide critical care when minutes matter. Unlike other drugs, blood cannot be manufactured to meet demand.