There has been increased interest from individuals who want to find a way to secure blood from unvaccinated blood donors. Although there is currently no organized manner for people to have a say in this, some companies may step up to offer solutions in this area in the near future. At the moment, most hospitals are unable to accommodate these specific requests. Moreover, Red Cross has a monopoly over the blood donation market (circa 40%), making it harder for smaller players to move in. Many governments around the world implemented draconian measures to deal with Covid, whether this included lockdowns, vaccination requirements, or other restrictions. The attempt to limit the ability of people to receive unvaccinated blood further adds to these restrictions.
It is common for organizations to restrict people from donating blood after they have been vaccinated or if they have short-term or long-term health conditions. The rise of health issues caused by vaccinations, which are often related to cardiovascular (and hence blood) health, has made people question whether receiving blood from a vaccinated blood donor is safe. Since there are no long-term studies (5-10 years) on how mRNA vaccines can potentially impact blood and the effect a blood transfusion might therefore have on a recipient, it is worthwhile to look into this topic if this concerns you.
Vaccine Issues
There have been documented issues with mRNA vaccines and other vaccines since 2021, and many people are worried about some of the long-term, unknown health risks associated with them. Some of these vaccines have caused blood clots, which has made individuals hesitant to get these vaccines. The risk of myocarditis following a Covid vaccine has been well documented and typically occurs among younger individuals after the second dose. Other studies have linked Covid mRNA vaccines with various neurological conditions, including Bell’s Palsy. Some studies have focused on how Covid vaccines can cause health issues related to blood health. A peer-reviewed study in Italy found that 94% of people had side effects after taking an mRNA vaccine and reported abnormal blood for one month after vaccination. Some Covid vaccines can cause Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), which causes blood clotting. There have also been rare instances of Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, which can cause easier bruising and bleeding.
Another NCBI study found that people vaccinated against Covid have higher blood viscosity levels after vaccination. These higher levels could cause health issues for people with underlying medical problems, such as metabolic issues. Higher blood viscosity levels are associated with multiple health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, and can cause sluggish blood flow. Given that these vaccine-induced health issues are related to blood and heart health, many people are now concerned that receiving blood from someone recently vaccinated may be dangerous. In one case, a mother blamed the death of her one-month-old child on a blood transfusion from a vaccinated blood donor. What is most troublesome is that the typical timeline for developing a vaccine is around 5 to 10 years. Many people are worried about these vaccines and that there may be unknown long-term health effects. This is not to mention that the Covid vaccine was the first mRNA vaccine ever introduced on a mass scale like this. However, scientists have been researching mRNA vaccines since the 1960-70s and have only now begun creating mRNA vaccines to be widely used by humans.
Donating Blood Restrictions
It is very common for hospitals not to allow people to donate blood because of recent travel, underlying health conditions, or other reasons. Some reasons why people can’t donate blood already include the following: Permanent: AIDS, severe heart disease, severe asthma, bleeding conditions, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and blood cancer. Temporary: Anemia, other types of cancer, hypertension, malaria, and anyone who received tattoos in the past three months. Furthermore, some people have to wait until after being vaccinated to donate blood. Vaccine mRNA can be detected in someone’s blood 15 days after vaccination, so it makes sense for organizations to organize blood donations by vaccination status. However, this may be difficult in countries like the United States, where only 17% of the adult population is unvaccinated.
The Erosion Of Trust
Many claims from health officials about mRNA vaccines turned out to be false, including the CDC’s claim that vaccinated people do not carry the virus or get sick. Many people who took the vaccine, whether it was their personal choice or the result of mandates, believed they would not get Covid, spread covid, or become hospitalized if vaccinated. As of August 2022, around 58% of Covid deaths in the United States occurred in vaccinated and boosted individuals, while the vaccinated population represents 69% of the population. These numbers are still alarming, even though vaccinated people make up a higher percentage of the population, as vaccines were initially designed to prevent infection and hospitalization. Many institutions are not diligently addressing issues based on confirmed cases with the vaccine and the unknown long-term risks. This has naturally eroded trust in the media, politicians, and health institutions. Many people are beginning to question the real long-term risks of vaccines and the dangers of receiving blood from a vaccinated individual. This hesitation is understandable, as the Red Cross and other organizations restrict blood donations from people with health issues, who are on certain medications, and even recently vaccinated people.
Safeblood Donation
Although some people are working on solutions now, individuals cannot request blood from an unvaccinated donor in most cases. Some people in the United States may be able to try to do this, but hospitals may not always honour this. Furthermore, this may be possible in some African countries but much more difficult in other parts of the world, like Europe. Nothing is guaranteed in any country or hospital; it is sometimes impossible to receive an answer from hospitals if you inquire beforehand. Some cases in the news have shown that hospitals have refused to accommodate these requests during urgent cases where someone needed blood immediately. Private sector solutions may emerge if hospitals or clinics are unwilling to step up.
SafeBlood Donation was founded by a Swiss naturopath with the objective of helping people to have access to blood from people who have not received a Covid vaccination. The company began targeting 16 countries but has since expanded its aim due to soaring demand. The company is now targeting over 40 countries in South America, North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. SafeBlood encourages hospitals to allow directed donations in cases where a blood transfusion is medically necessary. At the moment, you cannot specifically request blood from an unvaccinated donor, even though this blood could pose health risks.
Listed below are the countries and states currently working with SafeBlood and with links to help anyone interested in securing a residency or citizenship in the country:
- Africa: Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia,
- United Arab Emirates: Dubai
- Asia: Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Central America: Mexico Croatia
- Denmark
- Germany
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Holland (Netherlands)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- South America: Brazil
- UK: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland
- USA: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Islands, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming
SafeBlood is setting up a team to work with hospitals in various countries to see if they are willing to offer these services. Furthermore, it will create a portal on its website for hospitals willing to cooperate with SafeBlood. American states that are more libertarian, like Florida and Texas, may be more open to these services. While some countries are open to doing this, there are currently no solutions in most other countries. The most evident options currently are select African countries, Mexico, and certain states in the United States of America.
Process Of Finding Unvaccinated Blood
Currently, it is nearly impossible to request unvaccinated blood from hospitals. The only places that seem open to this concept include the State of Texas and various parts of Africa. However, SafeBlood is working on establishing operations in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The company will cooperate with hospitals and clinics or independently arrange blood donations.
- Australia: Currently, hospitals in Australia do not allow designated blood donations, and you can’t specifically request unvaccinated blood. Safe Blood is partnering with hospitals, laboratories, and private practices to see if it can offer unvaccinated blood. If not, SafeBlood will set up its blood bank in the future.
- New Zealand: New Zealand is very complicated to navigate, as there are currently no hospitals or clinics that will allow you to bring your blood in for a donation. In the past, New Zealand has denied specific requests and even taken custody of a family’s baby after they objected to the baby receiving vaccinated blood.
- Switzerland: Switzerland is also complex, as you can’t request blood from specific donors. SafeBlood is based in Switzerland and is working to make unvaccinated blood available to everyone and will set up its blood bank if it can’t cooperate with clinics and hospitals.
- Canada, Iceland and Sweden: SafeBlood is in the process of setting up teams in these countries to help create solutions for people to access unvaccinated blood. There is currently no free choice, in countries like Canada, for a blood donor who wants to bring blood from another donor.
- Mexico: It is possible to make a designated blood donation in hospitals in Mexico. Although every hospital may not offer this option, it is still possible for you to request unvaccinated blood in hospitals in Mexico. SafeBlood is partnering with hospitals and clinics to provide this option and to allow hospitals to receive information about the member’s living will.
- Austria: SafeBlood is also working on setting up operations in Austria for people who want to organize unvaccinated blood donations. There is another company, ungeimpft blut spenden österreich, that is also active in this area in Austria.
- United States: The United States may be one of the best options to consider, particularly as many states can accommodate requests if you specifically ask for unvaccinated blood. Texas is one of the best options, but many states are becoming members of SafeBlood, so you may be able to use these services in other states in the future.
- France, Italy and Spain: Designated blood donations are not typically made in hospitals or clinics in these countries, and there is currently no free choice for anyone who wants unvaccinated blood. SafeBlood has members in all these countries and will work to partner with hospitals and clinics or set up its blood bank.
- Germany: SafeBlood has also established a local office in Germany and will work with hospitals and clinics, if possible, to allow unvaccinated blood donations.
- Options in Africa: SafeBlood has members in multiple African countries and is in the process of setting up operations in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania. Africa will be easier to navigate than other continents like Asia and Europe.
Final Thoughts
Each country has different legal structures and openness to this concept, and only a few countries will initially be open to this option. If you are researching this topic, it is best to continue following SafeBlood and to check with local hospitals in your country if you can. You can also use SafeBlood’s online portal and create your own living will online so that you will be ready to contact hospitals in the future if you need unvaccinated blood. We will update this blog post as we hear more news. In extreme cases, patients may travel to other countries for blood transfusions if the option is unavailable in their home country. There may be options available in nearby countries if you have trouble finding safe blood near you.