Red Cross appeals for more convalescent plasma donors

MANILA – With the recent exponential increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is appealing for more donors of convalescent plasma.

Senator Richard J. Gordon, PRC chairman, and CEO, encouraged individuals who have recovered from the disease to donate their much-needed plasma at the PRC’s convalescent plasma center to help those who are still infected.

“Covid-19 cases are rising to unprecedented heights recently that we lost in five days what we have gained in five months. We need to have a sufficient supply of convalescent plasma to help those who are confined in hospitals due to the disease,” he said.

Convalescent plasma therapy may be given to people who are hospitalized with Covid-19 to help them recover since it could lessen the severity or shorten the length of the disease.

The PRC has served 686 patients from 88 hospitals from July 13, 2020 to March 25, 2021, dispensing 784 units of plasma. However, according to the current inventory, the PRC convalescent plasma center only has eight units of plasma.

“With a number of hospitals, especially those that are dedicated for Covid-19, now at full capacity due to the exponential rise in cases, we can help prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by donating plasma since Covid patients will recover in a shorter time. Covid survivors can become heroes,” Gordon said. (PR)