Plasma from individuals who have fully recovered from the new coronavirus is being used to help current COVID-19 patients. On May 18, Red Cross Board Member and Idaho Policy Institute Research Director, Vanessa Fry, is one of those individuals to donate her plasma. “To be able to give back after that is really good because I know so many people are suffering from it,” said Fry. “So, having the opportunity to give them a chance to get healthy quicker feels really good and it feels like it’s part of my responsibility to be able to do that.”
People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 are encouraged to sign up to donate convalescent plasma by completing the donor information form on the Red Cross’s website. To be eligible, individuals must meet all regular blood donor requirements and be symptom-free and fully recovered from the virus. Once they’ve completed the donor information form, a Red Cross representative will follow up to confirm eligibility. The donation process takes about 90 minutes.
