Vitalant holds Spring Fling blood drive Friday

MERIDIAN, Miss. - The Vitalant Spring Fling Blood Drive was held today at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Meridian. The drive was scheduled for Thursday, but severe weather caused a delay. Donor Recruitment Representative John Pace says they’re always short of blood in the Meridian area.

“They go through 12 to 14 hundred pints of blood in this area a month and we need every bit we can get especially with the recent freeze putting us behind--COVID still has people scared to come out," said Pace.

While giving blood, donors will be screened for COVID antibodies. Pace says blood can be given even after having the coronavirus 28 days later.

“Presence of antibodies doesn’t mean you have COVID, absence of antibodies doesn’t mean you haven’t," said Pace. "What we’re checking for is a level of antibodies sufficient to draw that plasma and that seems to be the life saving tool for those who COVID has struck the worst.”

About two weeks later, Vitalant representatives will contact you to let you know if the donor has sufficient antibodies in their plasma. Blood services are now looking forward to seeing a decline in numbers for the convalescent plasma.

“But we haven’t seen that yet," said Pace. We haven’t seen a downturn of the request for it yet, but we’re hoping that will come, of course.”

To make an appointment for future blood drives, visit here.