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Giving = Living was created to save lives following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Our nation’s blood and plasma supply dropped to historic lows during the COVID-19 pandemic. While some areas of the country have seen improvement, other areas are still struggling to meet the demand. Blood and plasma are needed on an ongoing basis to treat a variety of life-threatening conditions, which is why the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is launching a new campaign, Giving = Living.
The campaign aims to increase awareness of the importance of donating blood and plasma and to encourage Americans to create new, regular donation habits. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood for surgeries, cancer treatments, childbirth, anemia, serious injuries, and blood disorders. For many people, receiving a blood transfusion is lifesaving. Similarly, patients with rare diseases rely on medical treatments every day that are only available when people roll up their sleeves and give source plasma.
“A consistent supply of blood and plasma is critical to the health of our nation,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD. “There is no replacement for human blood and plasma. We simply need more people to give and to give regularly. We also need donors from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds.”
Diversity in the blood supply is important because certain blood types are unique to specific groups. Blood from a donor of a similar ethnic background is less likely to be rejected by a patient and often results in fewer complications after a transfusion. In addition, some people have rare blood types and need transfusions of compatible blood. Having a large, diverse pool of blood donors ensures that all patients will have access to the blood they need, when they need it. Despite this, America’s Blood Centers estimates that less than 20 percent of all blood donations currently come from communities of color.
The campaign, funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, features personal stories of people who benefit from donations:
Organizations from across the blood and plasma industries were instrumental in creating this campaign.
Visit hhs.gov/givingequalsliving to learn more about the importance of donation and make an appointment at a donation location near you.
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For general media inquiries, please contact media@hhs.gov.