MANCHESTER – This spring as COVID-19 vaccines become more available and people resume some of their favorite activities, the American Red Cross is reminding the public that the need for blood remains. Healthy individuals are encouraged to make a blood donation appointment now. But what about those who’ve received a COVID-19 vaccine – can they donate?

As long as donors are symptom-free, feeling well and can provide the vaccine manufacturer’s name, there’s no waiting period required after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine currently authorized in the U.S. Additional blood donation eligibility information is available at RedCrossBlood.org/Eligibility.

Three reasons not to wait to donate:

Donors, especially those with type O blood, are needed in May to help ensure blood products are available for patients now and into summer.

Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in May will be automatically entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps five, powered by Suburban Propane.*

Plus, those who make it in to give May 1-15 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, courtesy of Suburban Propane.**

Schedule an appointment now to give blood and make it a summer full of life for patients. Appointments can be made 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.

—

Health insights 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 they developed symptoms. Testing may also identify the presence of antibodies developed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Plasma from routine blood and platelet donations that test positive for high levels of antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to meet potential future needs of COVID-19 patients. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood product collected from COVID-19 survivors who have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.

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.

At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is also screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.

Donors can expect to receive antibody test and sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

—

Blood drive safety

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 masks 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 mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.  

Upcoming blood donation opportunities May 1-15

Alton

5/6/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Saint Katharine Drexel Church, 40 Hidden Springs Road

Laconia

5/11/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Leavitt Park House, 334 Elm St.

Meredith

5/15/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Meredith Office Complex, 8 Maple St., Suite 5

5/5/2021: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Meredith Office Complex, 8 Maple St., Suite 5

Tilton

5/1/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tanger Outlet Center, 120 Laconia Road

5/15/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tanger Outlet Center, 120 Laconia Road

5/4/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Tanger Outlet Center, 120 Laconia Road

_______________

Conway

5/11/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion Post #46, 47 Tasker Hill Road

5/15/2021: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Conway Public Library, 15 Greenwood Avenue

Moultonborough

5/14/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Moultonborough Lions Club, 139 Old Route 109A

North Conway

5/14/2021: 10 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., North Conway Community Center, 78 Norcross Circle

Union

5/8/2021: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wakefield Resource Center, 254 Main St.

Wolfeboro

5/12/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 388 North Main St.

5/6/2021: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Huggins Hospital, 240 South Main Street

_______________

Jaffrey

5/13/2021: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Jaffrey Bible Church, 133 Turnpike Rd

Keene

5/11/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Best Western Plus Sovereign Hotel, 401 Winchester Street

5/3/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street

5/5/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Keene Community Ice Arena, 380 Marlboro St

5/8/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monadnock Covenant Church, 90 Base Hill Road

Winchester

5/11/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ellen L. Murphy Memorial Community Center, 21 Durkee Street

_______________

Lancaster

5/13/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Colonel Town Community Center, 16 High Street

_______________

Bristol

5/5/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Marian Center, 17 West Shore Rd.

Lebanon

5/5/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Witherell Recreation Center, Witherell Recreation Center, 1 Taylor St

Littleton

5/6/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., St. Rose of Lima, 82 High St.

Plymouth

5/12/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Common Man Inn, 231 Main Street

_______________

Bedford

5/12/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, 250 S River Rd

5/4/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish Center, 190 Meetinghouse Rd.

Hollis

5/14/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lawrence Barn, 28 Depot Road

Manchester

5/11/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Great North Aleworks, 1050 Holt Ave

5/4/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lighthouse Calvary Chapel, 865 Second Street

5/5/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Legion – Sweeney Post 2, 251 Maple Street

Merrimack

5/4/2021: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., St John Neumann Church, 708 Milford Road

Milford

5/14/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Milford NH Masonic Temple, Milford NH Masonic Temple, 30 MT Vernon St

Nashua

5/14/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Courtyard by Marriott, 2200 Southwood Dr

5/6/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Nashua Elks Lodge, 12 Murphy Drive, Unit B-1

New Ipswich

5/1/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., New Ipswich Congregational Church, 156 Main Street

Pelham

5/8/2021: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Town of Pelham Fire Dept, 36 Village Green

Peterborough

5/7/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Union Congregational Church, 33 Concord Street

_______________

Allenstown

5/4/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Allenstown Fire Department, Allenstown Fire Dept, 1 Ferry street

Chichester

5/4/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Camping World, 165 Dover Road

Concord

5/12/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., IBEW Local 490, 48 Airport Road

5/13/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., NH Audubon McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road

5/3/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Bektash Shriners, 189 Pembroke Road

5/3/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., NH Department of Transportation, 7 Hazen Drive

5/7/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Concord Red Cross Office, 2 Maitland St.

Warner

5/7/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., United Church of Warner, 45 East Main Street

_______________

Chester

5/8/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Chester Fire Station, 27 Murphy Drive

Danville

5/5/2021: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Danville Community Center, 169 Main Street

Deerfield

5/12/2021: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Deerfield Community Church, 15 Church Street

Derry

5/14/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 50 Adams Pond Rd

Epping

5/10/2021: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., American Legion Post 51-Epping, 232 Calef Highway

Greenland

5/8/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Camp Gundalow, 176 Tuttle Lane

Hampton Falls

5/1/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hampton Falls Fire Department, 3 Drinkwater Road

Londonderry

5/11/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Londonderry Lions Hall, 256 Mammoth Road

5/14/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Londonderry Lions, 256 Mammoth Rd.

Newington

5/3/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Mall at Fox Run, 50 Fox Run Road

Nottingham

5/13/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Nottingham Community Center, 139 Stage Road

Portsmouth

5/12/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Portsmouth Elks Lodge, 500 Jones Ave

5/12/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., State Street Church, 634 State Street

5/13/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 300 Woodbury Avenue

5/13/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Best Western Plus Wynwood Hotel & Suites, 580 US Hwy 1 Bypass

5/5/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Piscataqua Savings Bank, Griffin Park, 200 Griffin Road Unit 10

5/7/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Andrew Jarvis Drive

5/7/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Middle Street Baptist Church, 18 Court Street

Raymond

5/7/2021: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Raymond Baptist Church, 145 Rte 27

Salem

5/13/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Bishop Peterson Hall, 37 Main St.

Seabrook

5/10/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Trinity United Church Parish House, 29 Main Street

5/15/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Trinity United Church Parish House, 29 Main Street

_______________

Dover

5/1/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Heritage Baptist Church, 186 Dover Point Road

5/14/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bill Dube Ford/Toyota, 40 Dover Point Road

5/5/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Mary Church, 25 Chestnut Street

5/7/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Johns United Methodist Church, 28 Cataract Avenue

Lee

5/3/2021: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Unit #5 Storefront, 54 Calef Hwy, Unit #5

Rochester

5/14/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Rochester Knights of Columbus, 250 Columbus Avenue

5/15/2021: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., YMCA of Strafford County, 35 Industrial Way

_______________

Claremont

5/10/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Claremont Senior Center, 5 Acer Heights Road

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.