Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on whole blood donation: Perspective of a Portuguese Hospital Blood Bank

Abstract

Aims: COVID-19 brought shortages in blood stocks worldwide. To try to understand the distribution of the number of donations throughout the pandemic, we carried out a study to assess our donors’ sense of security and fear. Methods: Retrospective study that includes all blood donors in our blood bank between July and August 2021. We surveyed the number of blood donations at our center since 2015 and applied a questionnaire to assess motivation, fear, feeling of security, and satisfaction in the implemented security measures and in the access to information about COVID-19 and donation. Results: A total of 558 donors were included in the study, most were men (313), and the median age was 41 years. There was a drop in the number of donations in March and April 2020, but no differences were found in the total number of donations over the years and in 2020. Some donors (n=136) reported being afraid to donate blood during the pandemic. Seventy-one participants had COVID-19 and 425 were vaccinated. Donors felt safer and less fearful after vaccination or illness. Overall donors felt safe during blood donation. Conclusion: Although donors overcome the fear of donating blood during COVID-19 pandemic and feel safe with the implementation of procedures to prevent the transmission of infection, we must implement and review donor safety measures that increase their trust in the blood bank and guarantee their return.