DOH calls for blood donations

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday called on eligible individuals to donate blood amid a shortage of supply in blood centers.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said individuals may access the list of blood donation centers through this website: https://tinyurl.com/DONATEBLOODPH.

“Bukod sa makakatulong ang inyong dugo sa pagligtas ng buhay, marami din po benepisyo para sa inyo ang pagdo-donate ng dugo,” Vergeire said at a Palace briefing.

(Aside from helping save lives, there are other benefits to donating blood.)

“Kabilang na diyan po ang pagbaba ng risk of heart attack, pagtulong sa pagpapanatiling malusog ang inyong atay, at nakakatulong din po ma-improve ang inyong cardiovascular health,” she added.

(This includes a lower risk of heart attack, helping your liver stay healthy, and improving your cardiovascular health.)

Individuals between the ages of 16 and 65 who weigh no less than 50 kilograms are eligible to donate, according to the DOH.

They must not have undergone minor or major surgeries, new tattoos, body piercings, or received the anti-rabies/anti-tetanus vaccine in the past year.

The DOH said they must also not be involved in "high-risk behaviors" such as casual sex or having multiple sexual partners, among other factors.

"Sa ngayon po mayroon tayong kakulangan sa supply ng dugo sa atin pong mga blood centers. Nananawagan po kami sa ating publiko na kung kayo po ay eligible, kayo po ay maaaring mag-donate ng dugo para po sa mga nangangailangan nating kababayan," Vergeire said. 

(Our blood centers are short on supplies. We encourage the eligible population to donate blood to our countrymen who need it.) 

COVID-19 vaccination

Vergeire also belied claims that donating blood is no longer allowed after getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Nais po namin linawin na ang impormasyong bawal mag donate ng dugo ang mga nagpapabakuna laban sa COVID-19 ay walang katotohanan,” she said.

(We want to clarify that claims that those who were vaccinated against COVID-19 can no longer donate blood are false.)

“Lahat po ng ating bakuna ay ligtas at hindi po ito nakakaapekto sa pagbibigay ng dugo (all vaccines are safe and do not affect the ability to donate blood),” she added. 

The Philippines on Friday logged 18,638 new COVID-19 cases, raising the nationwide caseload to 3,511,491.

Based on the Department of Health (DOH)’s latest bulletin, there are 231,658 active infections, of which 7,055 are asymptomatic, 219,811 are mild, 2,971 are moderate, 1,509 are severe, and 312 are in critical condition.  — VBL, GMA News