Category: Blood

Nov 29

Australia’s blood banks not ‘tainted’ by Covid-19 vaccines: experts

Copyright © AFP 2017-2023. All rights reserved. Experts say messenger RNA (mRNA) and spike proteins in Covid-19 vaccines do not “taint” blood donated by vaccinated individuals, contrary to a misleading claim circulating both within Australia as well as abroad. They told AFP the vaccines are rapidly broken down once they have stimulated the body’s immune response so it was “extremely unlikely” they would be present in donated blood. According to the Australian Red Cross, blood donations undergo stringent tests to ensure safety and there is no evidence blood from vaccinated donors pose a risk to recipients. “Emergency: Australia’s blood supply potentially tainted by mRNA & spike proteins!” reads the caption of a video shared on Facebook here on November 13, 2023. The video shows a man advocating for access to “unvaxxed blood” outside a blood donation centre of the Australian Red Cross, the country’s only blood collection agency. “We’re outside the managers of our nation’s blood supply and they’re not telling you about a major emergency for our country,” he says. “Blood supplies are potentially now tainted by mRNA and by these spike proteins.” The Facebook post links to a petition calling for blood donations to be separated according to the donors’ vaccination status, and a fundraising page to support this effort. Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post, captured on November 20, 2023 The video was also shared elsewhere on Facebook in Australia here, here and here, as well as internationally here, here, here and here, alongside similar claims. They closely resemble unfounded claims that receiving blood from people inoculated against coronavirus “contaminates” the body – leading to some advocating for blood banks to draw from “pure” unvaccinated people. AFP previously reported on how Covid-19 misinformation had spawned this “pure blood” movement here. Vaccine traces ‘extremely unlikely’ Coronavirus vaccines work by training the body to fight viruses without causing the illness. The Covid vaccines do this by either injecting the virus’s spike protein into the body — usually the muscle of the upper arm — using a harmless virus, or using mRNA technology to give the body’s immune system a “blueprint” of the spike protein so it can identify the virus and fight it if infected. Tony Cunningham, an infectious diseases and vaccine expert from the University of Sydney, told AFP it was “extremely unlikely” that Australia’s blood supply is “tainted” with mRNA and spike proteins (archived link). He explained in a November 21 email that the cells that absorb the mRNA and spike proteins from the vaccination die soon after stimulating the immune system. “The amounts in muscle and lymph node are small, transient and would require leakage of sessile resident cells into the circulation during donation,” Cunningham added, explaining that sessile resident cells are typically non-circulating cells that reside in lymph glands. AFP has previously debunked false claims mRNA and spike protein cannot be broken down by the body, and result in adverse effects. Frédéric Altare of French health research institute INSERM told AFP in July 2023 that the “production of spike protein is very transitory… The injected RNA as well as the proteins triggered by it disintegrate very quickly.” He told AFP in September 2023 that modifications had been made that “have improved the life expectancy of both the RNA and the protein it produces in order to improve their capacity to activate a stronger immune response.” Only pieces of the spike protein could remain in the body, Altare added, and research so far shows no negative side effects from the prolonged presence of spike protein remnants. ‘No evidence of risk’ According to the fundraising page linked to in the misleading Facebook post, the man in the video is Charles MacKenzie, who has for decades campaigned on behalf of Australian victims of a contaminated blood scandal and heads a support group (archived link). The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported that thousands of Australians were infected with blood containing Hepatitis C or HIV between the 1970s and early 1990s, before proper screening procedures were introduced (archived link). MacKenzie believes Covid-19 vaccines pose a similar threat to blood banks, but the Red Cross says there is nothing to worry about. More than half a million Australians give blood at the Red Cross’ 96 donation centres across Australia, and their donations are tested for compatibility and infections, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis (archived links here and here). The organisation says: “If a screening test for infectious disease is confirmed reactive, and the donation is destroyed, and donor is notified and counselled as part of standard Lifeblood procedures.” Provided they feel “healthy and well”, people can donate blood three days after they receive a Covid-19 vaccination, Red Cross spokeswoman Jemma Falkenmire told AFP in a November 20 email. “Whilst blood services cannot guarantee with absolute certainty that there are no components associated with vaccination in donated blood, in the event of the very small chance they are there, it would be at ultra-low levels and there is no evidence of a risk to a recipient,” she said. “Any mRNA from vaccines is also rapidly broken down and does not stay in vaccinated people.” The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies, America’s Blood Centers and the American Red Cross dismissed similar claims made in the United States as “misinformation” (archived link). “Similar to other vaccines such as those for measles, mumps or influenza, COVID-19 vaccines are designed to generate an immune response to help protect an individual from illness, but vaccine components themselves do not replicate through blood transfusions or alter a blood recipients’ DNA,” the organisations said in a joint statement. They said that because “there is no scientific evidence that demonstrates adverse outcomes from the transfusions of blood products collected from vaccinated donors”, there is “no medical reason to distinguish or separate blood donations from individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccination.” AFP has debunked several false and misleading claims about Covid-19 vaccines and blood donations here, here and here.

Nov 29

Urgent Plea for Blood Donations as Blood Turns Scarce | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: The Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Society (TSCS) in Hyderabad has issued an urgent plea for blood donations as the ongoing elections campaign worsens a critical shortage. Thalassaemia patients, reliant on regular blood transfusions for their health, are facing unprecedented challenges in obtaining this vital resource due to circumstances related to the electoral process. TSCS CEO & secretary Dr Suman Jain said, “The shortage of blood for transfusions is a critical issue affecting the health of Thalassaemia patients. With attention diverted to the elections, the already limited blood supply has further dwindled, putting lives at risk. Our society has almost depleted stored blood, making Thalassaemia patients more vulnerable.” Typically maintaining 600-700 units of blood, covering all blood groups, TSCS currently possesses only 100 units during the electoral season. Some blood groups are entirely unavailable, exacerbating the scarcity.Thalassaemia, a genetic blood disorder, necessitates frequent transfusions for individuals to lead normal lives. However, the availability of blood has been severely impacted by the electoral season, leading to a significant decline in donations, directly affecting those with Thalassaemia. We also published the following articles recently Rush Of Blood! Saving Lives Via DronesThe Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted a study on the use of drones to deliver blood supplies to remote and inaccessible areas. The preliminary findings showed that drones can be a gamechanger in emergency situations. The study involved flying blood samples and components to far-off places using a battery-operated drone. The results showed that drones are safer and less time-consuming compared to conventional transportation methods. This project aims to establish a delivery method for life-saving blood and develop SOPs for the wider use of drones. Blod.in launches Blod+: India’s first on-demand blood logistics platform for hospitals and blood banksBlod.in introduces Blod+, a transformative healthcare software and logistics platform. This innovation revolutionizes blood management and delivery in India, reducing significant blood wastage. Blod+ ensures steady blood access for hospitals, reducing wastage and addressing the daily deaths caused by blood shortage. Healthcare giants like CloudNine, Bewell, Sooriya Hospital, and IMAX Hospital have adopted Blod+, highlighting its integration ease. Blod+ reduces the average sourcing time for blood from 6 hours to 2 hours and 7 minutes, streamlining the supply chain and empowering blood banks to manage inventory efficiently. Young Blood: 5 youngest coaches in NBAThis article discusses the new generation of coaches in the NBA who are bringing fresh perspectives and energy to the league. It highlights the five youngest coaches making their mark: Willie Green, Taylor Jenkins, Mark Daigneault, Will Hardy, and Joe Mazzulla. Green, at 42, is the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans and previously worked as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns. Jenkins, aged 39, is the head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies and has experience as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks. Daigneault, 38, is the head coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder and has led the team to a strong start. Hardy, at 35, is the head coach for the Utah Jazz and draws from his experience with the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics. Mazzulla, also 35, is the head coach for the Boston Celtics and has led the team to a top spot in the league standings.

Nov 29

Phoenix police officer knows first hand the importance of donating blood

Gilbert police say that around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22, officers were dispatched to a welfare check at a home on Aspen Way, near Guadalupe and Recker roads. When they arrived, they found a man, later identified as 49-year-old Stefan Koleva, dead inside. In arresting paperwork, officers said they found a Koleva with signs of decomposition after being found wrapped in plastic and concealed under a bed.

Nov 29

Traffic pollution has an immediate impact on blood pressure

A study from the University of Washington (UW) offers new insights into the health risks associated with air pollution from congested city roadways. The findings reveal the direct impact of traffic pollution on blood pressure. The experts have found that exposure to unfiltered air during rush-hour traffic not only elevates passengers’ blood pressure in the moment, but maintains this increase for up to 24 hours. Traffic pollution This research, led by Dr. Joel Kaufman, signifies a critical advancement in understanding the health risks associated with traffic pollution. “The body has a complex set of systems to try to keep blood pressure to your brain the same all the time. It’s a very complex, tightly regulated system, and it appears that somewhere, in one of those mechanisms, traffic-related air pollution interferes with blood pressure,” said Dr. Kaufman. Focus of the study The findings build on Kaufman’s earlier research, which showed that diesel exhaust fumes could raise blood pressure in a controlled environment. The new study aimed to replicate these findings in a real-world scenario by testing the impact of traffic pollution on healthy individuals. How the research was conducted For the investigation, participants between the ages of 22 and 45 were driven through Seattle’s rush-hour traffic. Their blood pressure was monitored under two different conditions: exposure to unfiltered road air and drives with air filtered through high-quality HEPA filters, reducing particulate pollution by 86%. The participants were unaware of the type of air they were exposed to during each drive. Critical insights The results showed that breathing unfiltered air led to an average increase in blood pressure of more than 4.50 mm Hg compared to filtered air drives. This spike in blood pressure occurred rapidly, within about an hour into the drive, and persisted for at least 24 hours. Notably, the effect of this increase is comparable to that of a high-sodium diet. Study implications Dr. Kaufman highlighted the broader implications of these findings. “We know that modest increases in blood pressure like this, on a population level, are associated with a significant increase in cardiovascular disease.” “There is a growing understanding that air pollution contributes to heart problems. The idea that roadway air pollution at relatively low levels can affect blood pressure this much is an important piece of the puzzle we’re trying to solve.” Ultrafine particles Another critical aspect of the study is its focus on ultrafine particles, a type of pollutant less than 100 nanometers in diameter and unregulated. These ultrafine particles, abundant in traffic-related air pollution, were significantly reduced in the filtered air experiments, suggesting their potential role in affecting blood pressure. “Ultrafine particles are the pollutant that were most effectively filtered in our experiment – in other words, where the levels are most dramatically high on the road and low in the filtered environment,” Kaufman said. “So, the hint is that ultrafines may be especially important [for blood pressure]. To actually prove that requires further research, but this study provides a very strong clue as to what’s going on.” Dr. Kaufman notes the need for further research to conclusively establish this link. Nonetheless, the study stands out for its real-world application, moving beyond laboratory settings to replicate actual conditions millions experience daily. Valuable findings Michael Young, a former UW postdoctoral fellow and lead author of the study, praises the design for isolating the impact of air pollution from other roadway factors like stress and noise. “This study is exciting because it takes the gold-standard design for laboratory studies and applies it in an on-roadway setting, answering an important question about the health effects of real-world exposures,” said Young. “Studies on this topic often have a challenging time separating the effects of pollution from other roadway exposures like stress and noise, but with our approach the only difference between drive days was air pollution concentration.” “The findings are valuable because they can reproduce situations that millions of people actually experience every day.” The research was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institutes of Health. The study is published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates. —- Check us out on EarthSnap, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Nov 29

American Heart Association launches Upstate blood pressure initiative

The American Heart Association announced Nov. 27 it launched its “Screen, Educate, and Refer” blood pressure initiative at various agencies across the Upstate. As part of the program, AHA collaborated with participating organizations to offer recommendations for local free medical clinics, federally qualified health centers or medical providers. AHA also distributed blood pressure monitors and educational materials to organizations participating in the initiative. The “Screen, Educate, and Refer” Upstate partners include: Greer Relief & Resource Agency Laurens County Public Library Long Branch Baptist Church in Greenville Root Cause in Greenville St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Greenville The Bridge at Green Street in Spartanburg YMCA of Greater Spartanburg All programs are operational except St. Anthony’s, which will open in January 2024. Interested individuals are asked to contact the facility closest to them for more information about the free program.

Nov 29

18th annual blood drive held in memory of fallen NYPD Detective Dillon Stewart

Nov 29, 2023, 1:55amUpdated 18m ago Dozens gathered at the NYPD 70th Precinct Tuesday afternoon to remember fallen Detective Dillon Stewart on the 18th anniversary of his death. Stewart was killed in the line of duty in 2005, after he was shot while attempting to pull over someone driving a stolen vehicle. Stewart left behind his beloved wife, Leslyn, and two young daughters. Eighteen years later, the tradition of organizing a blood drive around the anniversary of his death continues to be the way the NYPD and Stewart family honor the late detective’s legacy. “I know that the night my dad was killed, he needed lots of blood. It means so much to see people continue to give in his honor”, said Samantha Stewart, Detective Dillon Stewart’s youngest daughter. Stewart’s eldest daughter, Alexis Stewart, has since followed in her father’s footsteps, now serving as a civilian working with the NYPD in Lower Manhattan. “I know I always have him close to my heart,” she said as she touched a locket with her father’s picture on her neck on one side, and shield number on the other. The Stewart family says they hope to continue this tradition for many years to come. Share this story

Nov 29

Valencia High School’s MSA students work to save lives

Rylee Kelemen Rylee Kelemen (née Holwager) joined The Signal team in June 2022, but has lived in Santa Clarita her entire life. She loves to tell the people’s stories and keep the public informed. She is a graduate of California State University, Northridge and was the Social Media Editor at her time with The Daily Sundial. Have a story to share? Email Rylee at [email protected].