Blood supply drops due to flu and corona, Flemish Red Cross seeks donors

The Red Cross in Flanders is seeing a sharp drop in the number of blood donations. Since the beginning of 2022, there have been around 15 percent more cancellations of blood donors than in the same period last year. Four out of five of the donors who cancel give illness as the reason, usually the flu or COVID-19. In order to replenish the low blood supply, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders is urgently looking for more donors.

The reserves of negative blood groups in particular are at a very low level. Red Cross Flanders is therefore calling on people to make an appointment for a blood donation. “We have to take action now to reverse this downward trend as quickly as possible. Because the general influx of donors, too, was 11% lower in March than in February”, says Joachim Deman, spokesperson for Belgian Red Cross-Flanders.

Those who have been infected with the flu or corona may donate blood again after two weeks of being symptom-free. Blood can be donated four times a year with at least two months between each donation. Donors can go to thirteen different donor centres in Flanders and Brussels. Numerous local blood collections are also scheduled. More info at rodekruis.be or via the phone number 0800 777 00 (free of charge).

(BRV)

© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK