Vietnam short of 13,000 blood donations ahead of Tet

The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion is experiencing a lack of blood donations, with about 30 blood donation centers having to cancel or postpone donations, due to the latest outbreak of Covid-19. However, 8,000 agencies are still receiving donations, according to VN Express.

From Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, the institute only received over 1,300 units of blood in total, while the daily blood supply requires up to 1,500 units per day.

In the week before Tet, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion expected to only receive 3,000 blood units, when they need at least 1,200 per day. The institute is most deficient in red blood cells and platelets, which can only be reserved for three to four days. This shortage is seriously affecting the provisions of 177 medical facilities in 28 provinces and cities across the country.

Dr Bach Quoc Khanh, director of the institute, said that they needed about 13,000 more units of blood for treatments before, during and after Tet. But with a longer Tet holiday and Covid-19, their situation had worsened.

The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion is now calling for blood donation from healthy individuals to the end of February 2021, especially people with O and type A blood types. Agencies and units will continue their donation as planned, as well as encouraging others to do so. Blood donors will receive a test kit and lucky money as souvenirs.

The institute is implementing strict Covid-19 prevention at every blood points to guarantee safety for donors, receivers, medical staff and other people at the locations.