If you have abnormal symptoms, you can donate blood 7 days after the symptoms disappear.
[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As the first COVID-19 vaccinations are set to begin on the 26th of this month, individuals who have received the vaccine will not be allowed to donate blood for 7 days from the date of vaccination.
Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at a regular briefing on the 21st, "We established these guidelines by referencing the decrease in blood donations due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, existing blood donation criteria after vaccinations, standards and cases from the World Health Organization (WHO) and major advanced countries, as well as expert opinions."
The current guidelines were developed after gathering expert opinions considering overseas application cases and existing blood donation deferral periods, and were reviewed by the Blood Management Committee. Son explained, "According to the guidelines, blood donation is allowed 7 days after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. However, if there are adverse symptoms after vaccination, blood donation is permitted only 7 days after the symptoms have disappeared."
Internationally, the United States does not have a separate deferral period related to COVID-19 vaccination for blood donation. The United Kingdom prohibits blood donation for 7 days after vaccination regardless of the vaccine type. Singapore bans blood donation for 4 weeks after viral vector or live vaccines, and for 3 days after other vaccines such as inactivated or messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines.
According to the reviewed and decided guidelines, for each COVID-19 vaccination, blood donation is prohibited for 7 days from the vaccination date, and if adverse reactions occur after vaccination, blood donation is prohibited for 7 days from the day symptoms disappear.
For COVID-19 vaccines requiring two doses, blood donation is allowed from 7 days after the first dose until before the second dose, and after the second dose, blood donation is again prohibited for 7 days.
Son added, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of critically ill patients can increase at any time, so maintaining blood supply is even more important," and urged, "We ask all citizens to actively participate in blood donation for themselves and their neighbors."
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