BIRMINGHAM, Ala — As part of the all-of-America approach to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Health Care Service (BVAHCS) is participating in the Mayo Clinic-led expanded access study to evaluate convalescent plasma therapy.
The convalescent plasma treatment option encourages those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate plasma to help others fight this disease.
Convalescent plasma is an antibody-rich product made from blood donated by people who have recovered from the disease. Prior experience with respiratory viruses, and limited data from China, suggest that convalescent plasma may lessen the severity or shorten the length of illness caused by COVID-19. It is important that this potential therapy is evaluated in clinical trials by expanding access to more individuals, as well as continuing emergency access as appropriate.
Progress can be made with your help. If you have recovered from COVID-19 and wish to celebrate your recovery by helping others, please see the information below.
How do you qualify to donate? Check if you meet the criteria below:
- You are 17 years or older and are at least 110lbs
- You are in good health and feel well (even if you have a chronic medical problem)
- You have fully recovered from a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and no longer have any symptoms
If you meet these criteria for recovery and wish to donate to help others, then you have completed the 1st step. The next step is to complete the America Red Cross Donor Request Form.
Once you have completed the Donor Request Form, a representative from the American Red Cross will contact you to confirm your eligibility.
Where do you donate?
- Once the American Red Cross confirms your eligibility, you will get a special Donor appointment at one of their locations.
What will happen with your donation?
- Please tell the American Red Cross you are “A Friend of the BHAM VA” and that you prefer your donation be sent to the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Health Care Service. Donations will go to those most in need.
- While the Red Cross may not be able to send them the blood directly, they will track every donation made towards the VA; and this will help prioritize requests for hospitalized Veterans.
- If you qualify, you can donate more than one time and each donation may help up to four individuals who are infected with COVID-19.
You can find more information here.
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