New blood donors in times of crisis: Increased donation willingness, particularly among people at high risk for attracting SARS-CoV-2

Marloes L.C. Spekman; Steven Ramondt; Franke A. Quee; Femmeke J. Prinsze; Elisabeth M.J. Huis in 't Veld; Katja van den Hurk; Eva Maria Merz

doi:10.1111/trf.16334

New blood donors in times of crisis: Increased donation willingness, particularly among people at high risk for attracting SARS-CoV-2

Marloes L.C. Spekman^*, Steven Ramondt, Franke A. Quee, Femmeke J. Prinsze, Elisabeth M.J. Huis in 't Veld, Katja van den Hurk, Eva Maria Merz

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, during crises the number of new blood donors increases. However, the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created additional barriers to donate due to governmental prevention measures and increased personal health risks. In this report, we examined how the pandemic affected new donor registrations in the Netherlands, especially among groups with higher risk profiles for severe COVID-19. Additionally, we explored the role of media for blood donation and new donor registrations.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed new donor registrations and attention for blood donation in newspapers and on social media from January until May 2020, in comparison to the same period in 2017 to 2019.

RESULTS: After the introduction of nationwide prevention measures, several peaks in new donor registrations occurred, which coincided with peaks in media attention. Interestingly, people with a higher risk profile for COVID-19 (e.g., due to age or region of residence) were overrepresented among new registrants.

DISCUSSION: In sum, the first peak of the current pandemic has led to increased new blood donor registrations, despite the associated increased health risks. Time and future studies will have to tell whether these new donors are one-off 'pandemic' donors or if they will become regular, loyal donors.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1822-1829
Number of pages	8
Journal	Transfusion
Volume	61
Issue number	6
Early online date	26 Feb 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.16334
Publication status	Published - Jun 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The study has been funded by Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. EMM's contribution has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant Agreement 802227).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Transfusion published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of AABB.

Funding

The study has been funded by Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. EMM's contribution has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant Agreement 802227).

Funders	Funder number
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
European Research Council
Horizon 2020	802227
Stichting Sanquin Bloedvoorziening

Keywords

blood donors
COVID-19
crisis
pandemic

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "New blood donors in times of crisis: Increased donation willingness, particularly among people at high risk for attracting SARS-CoV-2",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Traditionally, during crises the number of new blood donors increases. However, the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created additional barriers to donate due to governmental prevention measures and increased personal health risks. In this report, we examined how the pandemic affected new donor registrations in the Netherlands, especially among groups with higher risk profiles for severe COVID-19. Additionally, we explored the role of media for blood donation and new donor registrations.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed new donor registrations and attention for blood donation in newspapers and on social media from January until May 2020, in comparison to the same period in 2017 to 2019.RESULTS: After the introduction of nationwide prevention measures, several peaks in new donor registrations occurred, which coincided with peaks in media attention. Interestingly, people with a higher risk profile for COVID-19 (e.g., due to age or region of residence) were overrepresented among new registrants.DISCUSSION: In sum, the first peak of the current pandemic has led to increased new blood donor registrations, despite the associated increased health risks. Time and future studies will have to tell whether these new donors are one-off 'pandemic' donors or if they will become regular, loyal donors.",

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author = "Spekman, {Marloes L.C.} and Steven Ramondt and Quee, {Franke A.} and Prinsze, {Femmeke J.} and {Huis in 't Veld}, {Elisabeth M.J.} and {van den Hurk}, Katja and Merz, {Eva Maria}",

note = "Funding Information: The study has been funded by Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. EMM's contribution has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant Agreement 802227). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors. Transfusion published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of AABB.",

year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1111/trf.16334",

language = "English",

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AU - Spekman, Marloes L.C.

AU - Ramondt, Steven

AU - Quee, Franke A.

AU - Prinsze, Femmeke J.

AU - Huis in 't Veld, Elisabeth M.J.

AU - van den Hurk, Katja

AU - Merz, Eva Maria

N1 - Funding Information: The study has been funded by Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. EMM's contribution has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant Agreement 802227). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Transfusion published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of AABB.

PY - 2021/6

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N2 - BACKGROUND: Traditionally, during crises the number of new blood donors increases. However, the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created additional barriers to donate due to governmental prevention measures and increased personal health risks. In this report, we examined how the pandemic affected new donor registrations in the Netherlands, especially among groups with higher risk profiles for severe COVID-19. Additionally, we explored the role of media for blood donation and new donor registrations.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed new donor registrations and attention for blood donation in newspapers and on social media from January until May 2020, in comparison to the same period in 2017 to 2019.RESULTS: After the introduction of nationwide prevention measures, several peaks in new donor registrations occurred, which coincided with peaks in media attention. Interestingly, people with a higher risk profile for COVID-19 (e.g., due to age or region of residence) were overrepresented among new registrants.DISCUSSION: In sum, the first peak of the current pandemic has led to increased new blood donor registrations, despite the associated increased health risks. Time and future studies will have to tell whether these new donors are one-off 'pandemic' donors or if they will become regular, loyal donors.

AB - BACKGROUND: Traditionally, during crises the number of new blood donors increases. However, the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created additional barriers to donate due to governmental prevention measures and increased personal health risks. In this report, we examined how the pandemic affected new donor registrations in the Netherlands, especially among groups with higher risk profiles for severe COVID-19. Additionally, we explored the role of media for blood donation and new donor registrations.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed new donor registrations and attention for blood donation in newspapers and on social media from January until May 2020, in comparison to the same period in 2017 to 2019.RESULTS: After the introduction of nationwide prevention measures, several peaks in new donor registrations occurred, which coincided with peaks in media attention. Interestingly, people with a higher risk profile for COVID-19 (e.g., due to age or region of residence) were overrepresented among new registrants.DISCUSSION: In sum, the first peak of the current pandemic has led to increased new blood donor registrations, despite the associated increased health risks. Time and future studies will have to tell whether these new donors are one-off 'pandemic' donors or if they will become regular, loyal donors.

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New blood donors in times of crisis: Increased donation willingness, particularly among people at high risk for attracting SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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