logo
Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
Brief Publisher Logo
FACT BRIEF

Is the Red Cross not accepting plasma donations from people who have had COVID-19 vaccines?

By Alexis Tereszcuk
Copy link
email
Copy featured image
email
NO

A claim on social media concerning Red Cross plasma donations is misleading.

The Red Cross is still accepting whole blood, platelets and plasma from individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. However, the agency was not, in April 2021, accepting donation from people wanting to specifically give their "convalescent plasma" due to new guidelines released by the Food and Drug Administration.

Convalescent plasma is plasma that is taken from people who have recovered from a disease (COVID-19) and the blood is "presumed to have antibodies for that disease. These antibodies are what helped the person fight off the initial infection," according to Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

The Red Cross website clearly states that it is only "convalescent plasma" that is not accepted.

See a full discussion of this at Lead Stories
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Cedars-Sinai What Is Convalescent Plasma?
American Red Cross Blood Services Can I donate after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine?
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
FACT BRIEF BY
Brief Publisher Logo
Latest fact briefs
facebook
twitter
email
email
About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.