With the increase of COVID-19 positive cases in the Philippines, and pending the creation of a vaccine and a proven treatment, people turn to plasma therapy to help patients suffering from the dreaded disease.
While this remains to be an experimental treatment, hospitals have confirmed its favorable results. Thus, COVID-19 survivors who have fully recovered are urged to donate their blood plasma.
These survivors have developed antibodies in their blood that helped them fight the infection, and these antibodies are believed to be vital in treating other COVID-19 patients.
Among those who heeded the call for donations include celebrities like Iza Calzado and Howie Severino.
Read on to know about their stories in donating their blood plasma here.
Iza Calzado tested positive for COVID-19 in March but the actress was discharged from the hospital in the same month after her retest gave a negative result. (https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/health/61270/iza-calzado-now-negative-for-covid-19-after-retest/story?amp)
Iza Calzado did several attempts to donate her blood plasma. She successfully made her donation on June 12.
Howie Severino was able to produce a special 'I-Witness' episode documenting his experience as a COVID-19 patient. The news broke about the veteran broadcast journalist testing positive in April.
Howie Severino was medically declared to be free of COVID-19 in early May and made his blood plasma donation a week after.
Howie Severino returned to the hospital to donate for the second time but he initially didn't qualify as the antibodies responsible for his protection against the novel coronavirus began to dwindle. However, he plans to make another attempt as the hospital has adjusted its criteria for blood plasma donations.
Senator Migz Zubiri tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-March. After almost a month of battling the disease, he confirmed his recovery.
A few days after getting his result that he is free of COVID-19, Senator Migz Zubiri donated his blood plasma. He also encouraged his fellow COVID-19 survivors to do likewise to help in the medical treatment of and research on the dreaded disease.
Senator Sonny Angara recovered from COVID-19 in April. To donate his blood plasma, the senator got a swab test but he was surprised to test positive again. His doctors suspected the positive result came from the remnants of the virus in his body. Despite being non-infectious, the senator underwent another cycle of self-quarantine.
Senator Sonny Angara donated his blood plasma in April to help in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Senator Sonny Angara successfully made a second donation of his blood plasma in July.