The Instituto Português do Sangue da Transplantação (IPST) says, in a statement, that “the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic, namely the high number of contagions in recent weeks and the respective prophylactic isolations, have led to great difficulty in keeping the reserves of blood at stable levels.

At the same time, it also highlights that “the usual seasonal respiratory infections have contributed to a reduction in the influx of people who are candidates for blood donation” and that “both situations cause a large reduction in the number of donors and the postponement of previously scheduled collection sessions”.

“Despite all the reinforcement in the promotion of blood donation, namely through radio 'spots' and on social networks, it is necessary to mobilize all those who are in a position to make a blood donation, namely those who have never donated blood and those who have not made a donation for more than a year, thus contributing to the essential stability of reserves. It is very important to immediately reinforce blood donations, because only then can patients receive the treatments they need”, appeals the IPST.

“Portuguese hospitals need between 800 and 1,000 units of blood and blood components every day and it is never too much to remember that blood components have a limited storage time (35 to 42 days for erythrocyte concentrates and five to seven days for platelets); male blood donors can only make their donation every three months and, if they are women, every four months”.

To be a blood donor in Portugal you need to be between 18 and 65 years old, weigh more than 50kg and if you have had COvid-19 you must wait 14 days before donating or seven days after receiving a booster vaccine.

Further information can be found at www.ipst.pt and www.dador.pt