The Blood Connection in Urgent Need of Plasma as Vaccine Affects Donations
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA (JANUARY 5, 2021) – Amid the arrival of the long awaited COVID-19 vaccine, the demand for a well-known treatment for those battling the virus, convalescent plasma, has skyrocketed. The Blood Connection (TBC), a non-profit community blood center, has seen the demand for this life-saving product triple in the past few months because of its effectiveness. TBC has played a crucial role in local convalescent plasma collection in its commitment to meet every community hospital’s need during the pandemic. However, the need for convalescent plasma continues to far outrun the supply.
Amid the arrival of the longawaited COVID-19 vaccine, the demand for a well-known treatment for those battling the virus, convalescent plasma, has skyrocketed. The Blood Connection (TBC), a non-profit community blood center, has seen the demand for this life-saving product triple in the past few months because of its effectiveness. TBC has played a crucial role in local convalescent plasma collection in its commitment to meet every community hospital’s need during the pandemic. However, the need for convalescent plasma continues to far outrun the supply.
Amidst the holiday season, and the COVID-19 pandemic, The Blood Connection (TBC), the local, non-profit, community blood center, has a special request for a different kind of gift this year. As the sole provider for over 80 hospitals in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, TBC is urging all eligible blood donors who are healthy and well for their immediate gift of a blood donation to their local community.
October 14, 2020 - The Blood Connection (TBC), the local non-profit, community blood center is now experiencing a critical need for blood donations, an escalation of urgency from previous pleas for blood donations this month. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, TBC has seen a steady decrease in blood donations that could lead to a blood shortage. TBC is currently reallocating blood products to hospitals for immediate needs only. TBC and its Operations Command Center has noticed a decrease in blood donations and those willing to host blood drives, which has created a significant decrease in blood inventory. Since the beginning of the pandemic, COVID-19 has negatively impacted TBC’s blood collection and inventory, sparked by the cancelation of hundreds of blood drives and donors not coming in because of the fear of the virus. And even though it may feel as though the world is getting back to some kind of normalcy, COVID-19 is still taking its toll on the blood collection industry. The community is still not donating in the way that it has in the past; companies, schools and churches are not hosting drives due to work-from-home policies and safety concerns, and hospitals are restarting elective surgeries. This has all created a storm of insurmountable proportions. This is not an isolated crisis, as it extends regionally and nationally. The message is simple – COVID-19 has made a severe impact on the blood supply and The Blood Connection is asking the community to donate blood as soon as possible to support the critical need of blood for local hospitals in this area.
*Face coverings are required to donate. COVID-19 antibody testing is included with all complete blood donations. Appointments are encouraged.
Local donation center: 5870 Core Road, North Charleston, SC: https://thebloodconnection.org/contact/south-carolina-centers/charlestoncenter/
To find a blood drive: https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/zip
Those interested in hosting a blood drive in the community: http://thebloodconnection.org/host-a-drive
The Blood Connection is in need of platelet donations at their Core Road Donation Center in North Charleston.
Platelet Donation is when only platelets (small cell fragments in the blood that helps stop or prevent bleeding) are collected, and the other components are given back.
Cosmetic Dentist, Dana Blalock, DDS and Lauren Fowler, DDS are celebrating 10 year of being in business on Daniel Island. Daniel Island Dentistry is a full scope of general and cosmetic dentistry with expertise ranging from dental sleep medicine, neuromuscular dentistry, porcelain veneers to dental implants , and crowns.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA (April 6, 2020) – The Blood Connection (TBC) has announced that it is collecting donations from recovered COVID-19 patients to help with research and clinical trials. The blood product, known as convalescent plasma, may have antibodies that can help those critically ill from COVID-19 to fight the virus.
Blood Drive Cancellations and Low Donor Turnout, Community Urged to Donate
UPDATE (as of 03/09/20): Concerns about COVID-19 (coronavirus) are negatively impacting blood donations. Blood centers across the nation are pleading for anyone who is feeling healthy to do their part and donate. For a few weeks now, The Blood Connection (TBC) has seen an increase in blood drive cancellations and low donor turnout due to the fears surrounding the virus that has been heavily covered in the news. TBC and other blood centers nationwide are concerned that this could lead to blood shortages, which could impact local hospitals.
“The impacts on the blood supply from COVID-19 will only be as bad as this community allows it to be,” said Dr. Robert Rainer, Medical Director for The Blood Connection. “If those who are feeling healthy donate now and encourage others to do the same, there could be little to no impact, and communities’ blood supplies will remain resilient and self-sustaining.”
You never think it’s going to happen to you. All the planning, anticipating, googling and packing – then you wake up to your first day of vacation, and something feels off. There is nothing worse than getting sick when you’re far from home.
Google “virtual care in Charleston” and you’ll find Roper St. Francis Virtual Care - https://www.rsfh.com/virtualcare . Within a minute you’ll be in line for much needed advice. Your urgent care visit professional will take it from there. You’ll be feeling better soon – look out King Street!
You can tell from her smile that Kristen Odom is full of joy. Just talk to her for 30 seconds, and you’ll find that joy stems from her overwhelming gratitude. She’s happily married with an adorable 2-year-old, Caroline, and loves her job teaching at a local school. Sure, that’s a lot to be thankful for…no wonder she’s so happy!
But talk to her a little bit longer, and it’s clear there’s a reason for that abundant thankfulness. Almost 2 years ago, Odom had complications after her daughter’s delivery. Odom was only able to hold her beautiful newborn baby for several minutes, before she started feeling dizzy. Seconds later, she was whisked away to an operating room with no explanation.
