Vaccination likely to affect blood donation drive in Cuttack

CUTTACK: The massive vaccination programme is likely to trigger shortage of blood in the coming days in the state since those inoculated won’t be able to donate blood for a while.
Somnath Mukherjee, head of the department of transfusion medicine and blood bank at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, said “As per recent guideline of ICMR, there must be a four-week gap between the first and second doses of Covaxin and 6-8 weeks in case of Covishield vaccine.”
Following that, a person taking two doses of Covaxin won’t be able to donate blood for 56 days. While those taking Covishield will have to wait for at least 84 days before they can donate blood. As more than 40% of the population belongs to the 18-45 age-group, chances of blood shortage is likely. It is also important to note that this age-group contribute most during blood donation camps in the state.
Pankaj Parida, head of the department of transfusion medicine and head of blood bank, SCB Medical College and Hospital, said, “We have collected blood and have a stock for another two weeks. But after that we will likely witness shortage of blood.”