“How is blood banking impacted by covid-19?”

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly worsened chronic issues with nationwide blood shortages. It especially impacted the percentage of younger donors as schools and universities canceled many of their blood drives. Places of employment also faced serious logistical challenges as workers were sent home to work remotely and the no-show rates of scheduled blood donors dramatically increased due to social distancing recommendations and COVID-19 infection or exposure. This resulted in critically low blood inventory levels nationwide with potentially significant consequences for patient care. Blood centers, hospitals, transfusion services, and clinicians worked closely together during this time. Media support also played an important role by raising awareness with the public to help increase blood donations.

Nationally and internationally blood banking was severely impacted on many levels. Otherwise previously healthy donors were either in "locked down" situations or were infected by the virus. The pandemic caused widespread staffing shortages among blood bank personnel. With schools and large businesses being closed for various periods, previous venue sites for productive blood drives disappeared. There were also various kinds of "supply chain" shortages. By early 2021 widespread blood shortages occurred coast to coast because blood usage was still "normal". Challenged adequacy of donor blood became the "new normal".